Lake emerges in Death Valley in 'once-in-a-lifetime' event after record rainfall

Following record rainfall, one of the driest places on the planet is now home to paddle boarders and kayakers taking full advantage of the odd event.

Get in loser, we are going to Death Valley... is what I imagine some holidaymakers said to one another before they headed to California.

Death Valley holds the reputation as being incredibly hot and humid, not exactly a holiday must visit, unless you are one of those people who wish to experience record levels of heat.

However, in the past six months, Death Valley has received more than double its annual rainfall amount.

In a typical year, Death Valley would receive about two inches of rainfall, however in the past six months it has recorded more than 4.9 inches.

This has resulted in Lake Manly and an area that used to simply be parched bright white salt flats being completely transformed.

DAVID SWANSON/AFP via Getty Images

Due to this rainfall, the Badwater Basin and lake now see tourists heading to the region, which resides near the border of California and Nevada, with beach gear.

Park ranger Nichole Andler spoke about the bizarre situation.

“It’s the lowest point, in North America. So it’s going to collect water, but to have as much water as we have now - and for it to be as deep and lasting as long as it has - this is extremely uncommon,” he said.

“If it’s not once-in-a-lifetime, it’s nearly.”

Despite this, Andler said experts expect the water levels to drop in a matter of weeks.

“[The lake] will probably be here into April. If we’re lucky, May. And then it’ll be a muddy, wet mess, and then it’ll dry out into those gorgeous white salt flats,” he added.

DAVID SWANSON/AFP via Getty Images)

So, if you planned on seeing this spectacle you had better get a move on.

If you do miss out on getting to the lake, you might be in luck as it could see record-breaking temperatures like it did last summer.

Furnace Creek, near the California’s Death Valley National Park visitor centre is known for its sky-high temperatures.

Last July, meteorologists recorded highs of 128 degrees.

Now, although this is record-breaking heat to us, according to the park service the actual hottest temperature recorded at Death Valley was 134 degrees in July 1913.

This would certainly be enough to fry an egg or two on any rock you happen to pass by.

Topics: Environment, News, US News, Weather

Gerrard Kaonga

Gerrard is a Journalist at UNILAD and has dived headfirst into covering everything from breaking global stories to trending entertainment news. He has a bachelors in English Literature from Brunel University and has written across a number of different national and international publications. Most notably the Financial Times, Daily Express, Evening Standard and Newsweek.