DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK, Calif. (AP) — Kayakers have been paddling in one of the driest places on Earth after a series of record rainstorms battered California’s Death Valley and replenished Lake Manly.

Ranger Nichole Andler stated that Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park, located along the central California-Nevada border, typically boasts a stunning, pristine white salt flat.

This year, there is a lake.

Over the last half year, Death Valley has experienced a precipitation level that is twice as much as its usual annual amount, with a total of 4.9 inches (12.45 centimeters) compared to the average of 2 inches (5.08 centimeters). On rare occasions, temperatures of 130 F (54.44 C) or higher have been recorded on Earth, with most instances occurring in Death Valley.

The lowest point in North America is Badwater Basin, sitting at 282 feet (85.95 meters) below sea level. This location is popular among tourists for taking selfies and briefly strolling on the white salt flats, surrounded by sandy-colored mountains.

According to Andler, this is a rare occurrence as the lowest point in North America collects an unusual amount of water that has lasted for a considerable length of time. It may be a once-in-a-lifetime event or close to it.

Andler recommended that kayakers plan to visit soon as the water levels are predicted to decrease within a few weeks. However, the lake will most likely still be present until April, and if we are fortunate, possibly until May. After that, it will become a messy and damp area before eventually transforming into stunning white salt flats.

Heather and Bob Gang, from Pahrump, Nevada, were part of a large group of tourists who enjoyed the lake on Thursday. While many chose to walk in the water, Heather and Bob, along with others, opted to use paddles in areas where the water was about a foot (0.3 meters) deep.

Heather Gang stated that kayaking Lake Manley is a unique and rare experience.

In the past, the Death Valley had a stark difference from its current state. People used to stand in the same location and observe the vast, chalky salt flats that seemed to stretch endlessly.

The couple has been eyeing the lake’s evolution ever since last year’s storms started filling the lake. In the fall, they drove out to see it re-emerge as a lake but they said it wasn’t deep enough for kayaks like now. This time the water reached up to the boardwalk.

The lake, which measures approximately 6 miles (9.66 kilometers) in length and 3 miles (4.83 kilometers) in width, is far from its original state from thousands of years ago when it emerged during the Ice Age. At that time, it covered a large portion of the park and had a depth of several hundred feet.

According to Bob Gang, approximately 20 years ago, the lake was full enough for boaters to use. Therefore, he did not want to miss out on the opportunity this time around.

Bob Gang, who took a girl for a ride on his kayak, expressed his enjoyment, saying, “It’s a great experience to see young children out here having fun and appreciating something so special.”

It may take as long as two decades for boaters to come back, he remarked. However, with the effects of climate change, it is uncertain if this will become the new norm.

Guo Yu, a hydrometeorology assistant research professor at the Desert Research Institute in Nevada, explained that the size of the lake is a basic occurrence in nature.

According to Yu, the cause of the increased precipitation in California is a combination of a strong El Nino event, which is a periodic warming of the Pacific Ocean, and climate change. The latter results in more frequent and powerful atmospheric rivers in the area.

The scientist suggested that immediate research on Lake Manly is necessary to determine the potential for utilizing its water for various purposes in the future, such as providing drinking water in the arid Southwest.

According to Tiffany Pereira, a scientist at the institute, the current size of the lake can have positive effects on the plants and animals in the area.

Some types of seeds that are unique to this region, and can only be found in Death Valley, have been inactive for ten or more years. They are now starting their short-lived life cycle, as there is now sufficient water to support their growth.

She stated that they spend time together, engage in activities, and once it ends, they are finished.

Currently, Trudell Artiglere and Sheri Dee Hopper, who are friends from Las Vegas, will take pleasure in kayaking on the lake. Artiglere noted that by the end of Thursday, their kayaks were covered in salt, resembling “glazed donuts.”

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Dazio provided information from Los Angeles. Julie Watson, a writer for the Associated Press, contributed from San Diego.

Source: wral.com