Late last year, Death Valley National Park in California experienced heavy rainfall, resulting in the formation of a temporary lake called Lake Manly in the Badwater Basin area. The lake was about 6 miles long and 3 miles wide after a series of storms in early February. However, NASA's U.S.-French Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite observed that the water depths in the lake ranged from about 3 feet to less than 1.5 feet over the course of about six weeks. As the water levels dropped, the lake closed to all boating and is now only a few inches deep. Visitors are still allowed to walk in the water but are asked to avoid muddy areas where footprints can last for years. Additionally, some of the surrounding salt flats were damaged by people dragging watercraft to the lake [b161effe].
Lake Manly's formation and subsequent shrinkage demonstrate the impact of winter rainfall in Death Valley. The lake's existence was a rare occurrence, as Death Valley is known for its extreme aridity and is one of the driest places on Earth. The heavy rainfall that led to the lake's formation is attributed to the same weather patterns that brought precipitation to other parts of California, including the Sierra Nevada mountains. The temporary lake serves as a reminder of the dynamic nature of desert environments and the influence of climate patterns on their ecosystems [b161effe].