Death Valley is widely recognized for its intense heat and profoundly arid conditions. This landscape often conjures images of vast, parched expanses, making the idea of a lake existing there seem improbable. However, the unique geological and climatic characteristics of this region sometimes allow for the temporary appearance of water bodies, challenging common perceptions of its dryness.
Badwater Basin’s Unique Water Body
A water body can exist in Death Valley, specifically in Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America at 282 feet (86 meters) below sea level. This expansive area is predominantly a salt flat, covering nearly 200 square miles (518 square kilometers) and largely composed of sodium chloride, along with calcite, gypsum, and borax. While typically dry, under specific and infrequent conditions, a temporary, shallow lake can form here, sometimes referred to as Lake Manly. Badwater Basin itself is the remnant of a much larger ancient Lake Manly that evaporated tens of thousands of years ago.
When Water Appears in Death Valley
Water accumulation in Death Valley, particularly in Badwater Basin, relies on infrequent yet intense rain events. These are not typical steady rainfall but powerful phenomena like remnants of hurricanes or atmospheric rivers. For instance, Hurricane Hilary in August 2023 delivered 2.2 inches of rain, and an atmospheric river in February 2024 brought another 1.5 inches, significantly exceeding the park’s average annual rainfall of about 2 inches. The basin’s topography, being an endorheic basin with no outflow to the sea, allows this water to collect rather than drain away. These significant precipitation events are rare and unpredictable, leading to sporadic temporary lakes.
The Disappearing Act of Death Valley’s Water
Water accumulating in Death Valley does not persist due to the region’s extreme evaporation rates. Death Valley records the highest potential evaporation rate in the United States, estimated at around 150 inches (3800 mm) annually. This intense evaporative power means that even a 12-foot-deep lake could vanish within a single year.
The high temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds accelerate this process. As the water rapidly evaporates, it leaves behind the thick crust of salt that defines Badwater Basin. This cycle of accumulation and rapid evaporation forms the distinctive hexagonal salt polygons seen across the basin floor.