‘This is weird’: Experts ‘shocked’ by record-breaking longevity of Death Valley’s phantom lake

No sign of any blame being attached to human activities, in this article at least.
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A temporary lake at Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park has persisted for more than six months, which is far longer than it has lasted before.

And experts say that it could stick around for quite a while yet, says Live Science.

Park rangers in Death Valley are scratching their heads as to how the desert’s phantom lake has persisted for more than half a year — likely its longest lifespan in living memory.

A recent rain dump also means that the puzzling pool of water, which normally dries up within weeks of appearing, could remain intact for several more months.

The ephemeral, or temporary, lake is found in the heart of Badwater Basin — a large, flat drainage basin located within the eastern border of Death Valley National Park in California. The basin is around 282 feet (86 meters) below sea level — the lowest point in North America — and is normally a dry, dusty wasteland.

Most of the time, it’s covered in crystalized salt, as well as occasional puddles of toxic water that seep up from a submerged spring. But after heavy rainfall, water from the rest of the park flows into the basin and creates a shallow freshwater lake.

Normally, the lake only lasts for a few weeks because Death Valley’s scorching heat causes the water to evaporate faster than any fresh water can be added. Most years, the lake barely forms due to a lack of precipitation: On average, the park receives just 2 inches (5.1 centimeters) of rain annually.

On Aug. 20, 2023, the remnants of Hurricane Hilary unleashed around 2.2 inches (5.6 cm) of rain on Death Valley, creating a large lake in the basin that was up to 7 miles (11.3 kilometers) long, 4 miles (6.4 km) across and 2 feet (0.6 m) deep — its largest size for almost 20 years, according to NASA’s Earth Observatory.

Over winter, the lake shrank to more than half this size and was just a few inches deep — but it did not completely dissipate.

“Most of us thought the lake would be gone by October,” Death Valley park ranger Abby Wines said in a National Parks Service (NPS) statement. “We were shocked to see it still here after almost six months.”
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Park rangers have “no idea” why the lake has persisted so long, Wines added. “This is weird!”

The lake is currently deep enough to allow park visitors to kayak on its surface, according to FOX Weather. The lake is not expected to stay this deep for long, but Wines believes it could still be there in late April.

The recent atmospheric river also brought a rare dusting of snow to the tallest peaks in Death Valley, which is another extremely rare phenomenon, according to NPS.

Full article here.

Image: High and low points in Death Valley National Park [credit: Surachit/USGS]