Uploaded September 2023 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
California's Salton Sea was created in 1905, when water from the Colorado River began to flood into the Alamo Canal through an unsecured and unauthorized breach. That water traveled through the canal to the Alamo River and New River in Mexico before heading north to the lower elevation of the Imperial Valley where it flooded the Salton Sink.
While the Imperial Valley was sparsely populated at the time, the damage was massive. The town of Salton was submerged under the newly formed body of water, and extensive damage was done to several mines and the Southern Pacific Railroad. The almost two year flood created the largest lake in the Southwestern United States, the Salton Sea.
But what happened to the Alamo Canal? In this video we travel to what's left of the Alamo Canal, located about 60 miles from the Salton Sea, on the U.S./Mexico border, and visit the historic Hanlon Heading, one of the head gates built to try and control the water that was flooding into the valley.
Hanlon Heading is located at: 32.721093844767786, -114.72509422075892
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►Music in this video is from Epidemic Sounds; use our link for a 60 day free trial: share.epidemicsound.com/v927fj
California's Salton Sea was created in 1905, when water from the Colorado River began to flood into the Alamo Canal through an unsecured and unauthorized breach. That water traveled through the canal to the Alamo River and New River in Mexico before heading north to the lower elevation of the Imperial Valley where it flooded the Salton Sink.
While the Imperial Valley was sparsely populated at the time, the damage was massive. The town of Salton was submerged under the newly formed body of water, and extensive damage was done to several mines and the Southern Pacific Railroad. The almost two year flood created the largest lake in the Southwestern United States, the Salton Sea.
But what happened to the Alamo Canal? In this video we travel to what's left of the Alamo Canal, located about 60 miles from the Salton Sea, on the U.S./Mexico border, and visit the historic Hanlon Heading, one of the head gates built to try and control the water that was flooding into the valley.
Hanlon Heading is located at: 32.721093844767786, -114.72509422075892
○ Gear we use: amazon.com/shop/sidetrackadventures
►Please subscribe for weekly updates showcasing some of our adventures: youtube.com/channel/UCdueDRFYPVgzPAAOM_bxVWA?sub_confirmation=1
►Also please follow Sidetrack Adventures on Instagram: instagram.com/sidetrackadventures
►Music in this video is from Epidemic Sounds; use our link for a 60 day free trial: share.epidemicsound.com/v927fj
