Jun 11, 2007 - El Mirage, California, United States - El Mirage is an area administered by the Bureau of Land Management with cooperation from the state of California Parks and Recreation. The lake bed is a flat playa formed in an undrained basin. Silt and clay are deposited into this basin during h

Jun 11, 2007 - El Mirage, California, United States - El Mirage is an area administered by the Bureau of Land Management with cooperation from the state of California Parks and Recreation. The lake bed is a flat playa formed in an undrained basin. Silt and clay are deposited into this basin during h

ZUMA Press, Inc. / Alamy Stock Photo

Image ID: CG05CA

Jun 11, 2007 - El Mirage, California, United States - El Mirage is an area administered by the Bureau of Land Management with cooperation from the state of California Parks and Recreation. The lake bed is a flat playa formed in an undrained basin. Silt and clay are deposited into this basin during heavy storms. When this 'lake' dries, the hard pan dry lake bed is left. This hard, smooth surface is ideal for the unique activities conducted at El Mirage. These include ultra-light aircraft and gyrocopter flying, model rocketry, remote control airplane flying, landsailing and straight track racing. Pictured microlight aircraft on the lake bed. (Credit Image: © Ruaridh Stewart/ZUMA Press)