Death Valley National Park is widely known as the hottest and driest place in North America, making the idea of a lake seem unlikely. While there are no permanent, traditional bodies of water resembling a typical lake today, the landscape is not entirely devoid of water. The presence of water features, both temporary and enduring, shapes the ecosystem and geological history of this extreme desert environment. Understanding the water in Death Valley requires looking at the landscape’s past, its lowest point, and its hidden oases.
The Reality of Badwater Basin
The area most frequently associated with water in Death Valley is Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America at 282 feet below sea level. This vast plain is typically not a lake but an expansive salt flat covering nearly 200 square miles. The stark white surface is composed primarily of sodium chloride (table salt), along with minerals like gypsum and borax.
The salt crust forms through continuous evaporation within this closed drainage basin, known as an endorheic basin. Rainwater and groundwater carry dissolved minerals from the surrounding mountains into the basin. Intense heat causes the water to quickly evaporate, leaving behind a thick, crystalline layer that often cracks into hexagonal salt polygons.
Ephemeral Lakes After Heavy Rain
Rare, heavy rainfall events can transform Badwater Basin into a temporary body of water, known as an ephemeral lake. These short-lived features are usually triggered by unusual weather patterns, such as the remnants of tropical storms or powerful atmospheric rivers. For example, Hurricane Hilary in August 2023 created a shallow lake that persisted for months.
The water collects quickly because the desert ground is not readily absorbent, and the basin’s low elevation acts as a natural catchment for runoff. This temporary lake, informally called Lake Manly, can be several miles long and wide, though it often remains only a few inches deep. Due to the valley’s extreme temperatures, these lakes usually disappear within days or weeks as the water evaporates rapidly.
Traces of Ancient Lake Manly
The modern landscape contrasts sharply with the valley’s deep history, which included a massive prehistoric lake named Lake Manly. This ancient pluvial lake filled Death Valley during the Pleistocene epoch (Ice Ages), when the climate was much cooler and wetter. Lake Manly was immense, stretching nearly 100 miles long and reaching depths of up to 600 feet.
The lake was fed by vast amounts of meltwater from Sierra Nevada glaciers and runoff from interconnected ice-age lakes. Evidence of this former water body remains today as ancient shorelines and terraces visible on the surrounding mountainsides. A climate shift thousands of years ago caused the water sources to diminish, leading to the lake’s complete evaporation and leaving behind the thick layers of salt and sediment on the valley floor.
Permanent Springs and Hidden Oases
Away from the vast, dry basin floor, Death Valley contains smaller, permanent water features that support life in localized areas. These isolated springs and seeps are fed by groundwater from subterranean aquifers that reach the surface. These small oases are scattered throughout the park, including locations like Furnace Creek and various canyons.
Water from these sources supports unique ecosystems, contrasting sharply with the surrounding barren desert. They provide refuge for endemic species, such as the tiny pupfish found in Salt Creek, which have evolved to survive in the high-salinity water. These localized water sources demonstrate that even the driest place in North America holds surprising pockets of aquatic life.