Lake Manly is back after record rain in Death Valley

After record-breaking rain in Death Valley, a shallow lake has formed at Badwater Basin, the national park said.

The phenomenon known as Lake Manly is far smaller than it was last year, when it was about a foot deep over much of its 18-square-mile area. The current one covers much less terrain and barely rises above shoe tops, the park said.

The transient lake also formed in 2023, when the remnants of Hurricane Hilary deluged the park, but it was off-limits to visitors then because of road damage. Before that, Manly had not formed since 2005.

Last month was Death Valley’s wettest November on record, with 1.76 inches of rain, a Dec. 4 park press release said. The previous mark, in 1923, was 1.7.

The park also recorded the greatest rainfall for the September-November period, 2.41 inches, which is more than the yearly average.

The current Lake Manly is about a mile hike from the Badwater parking lot. At 282 feet below sea level, the basin is the lowest point in North America.

The park is advising visitors of road closures caused by the recent heavy rains. In addition to making some unpaved roads impassable, the storms left several paved roads blocked by debris.  Updates can be found at the park’s website.

 

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