Death Valley, known as the hottest place on earth, mysteriously popped up a lake that left locals scratching their heads. This part of the Americas, one of the driest in the world, formed a lake seven months after being hit by a storm.
A lake that formed in the aftermath of Hurricane Hillary in August 2023 has not completely dried up. Death Valley typically receives around 2 inches of rain per year, but Furnace Creek has seen 49 inches.
The park says that this lake occurs in the Badwater Basin, which is a typical salt flat. According to a statement from the park, recent rains mean the lake will stay longer than expected.
At its maximum, the lake was 7 miles long, 4 miles wide and 2 feet deep, according to the National Park Service. By the end of January, it had shrunk to half its original size, just a few inches deep.
Park ranger Abby Vines said, "Most of us thought the lake was going to disappear in October. We were shocked to see that it was still here six months later. This week's rain will extend the time this lake is here. It's too shallow for canoeing, but it reflects the amazing mountains.
The park service says this astonishing lake is a rare sight in the Badwater Basin. This basin was once home to an ancient lake called Lake Manly, which dried up about 10,000 years ago.
While Death Valley is believed to be the hottest place on record on Earth, with scorching temperatures occurring in the summer, even if no records have been recorded, this week's highs are around 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. In the shade, summer temperatures typically reach as high as 120 degrees Fahrenheit and nighttime lows can reach 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
The area was very dry, with no rainfall recorded in 1929 or 1953. Between 1931 and 1934, over a period of 40 months, only 064 inches (1.)6 cm).
Hurricane Hillary was the first tropical storm to enter California since Hurricane Nora in 1997. The hurricane caused 26 million people in four states, Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah, to receive flood warnings. Death Valley is still recovering from the damage caused by Hurricane Hillary, but the park** says most roads have now reopened.