Spring Creek is a sacred area of the Klamath Tribe and I can see why. The water is ridiculously clear and cold. We hiked up to the headwaters where water bubbles up through the sandy bottom and seeps out of the banks through lava rock. So cool. I’ve been to springs before, where water gushes out of the mountain but this was different. It came from everywhere!
What I didn’t expect was Mare’s eggs. These rare “eggs” are a species of blue-green algae and truly odd. Mare’s eggs grow in colonies, some up to 9 inches and weighing more than five pounds. They have a soft outer “shell” and a watery gel like center. They’re rarely found because they require pretty specific conditions. The key is water with low nutrient content and constant water temps of 39 to 43 degrees Fahrenheit. Fun fact: Mare’s eggs create their own food through photosynthesis. I thought they were rocks but did research and found out what they really are.
Leave a Reply