$30 Million L.A. Mansion Looks Over A Secret Body Of Water

Not all Southern California homes with water views face the ocean. In the exclusive Bel-Air neighborhood west of downtown Los Angeles, a large reservoir in the Santa Monica Mountains creates a lake-like backdrop that resembles a Mediterranean landscape, a neat trick for an urban enclave less than 20 miles from downtown and Los Angeles International Airport.

One example: the ornate mansion for sale at 1940 Bel-Air Road that was built on a low hill overlooking scenic Stone Canyon Reservoir. The setting provides a natural and scenic setting for the 17,000-square-foot home with eight bedrooms and 15 bathrooms built a decade ago.