Death Valley’s ancient Lake Manly reappears after record rainfall in one of hottest places on Earth
In 2025, an ancient water body that had vanished about 130,000 years ago turned back on its own after an extraordinary downpour in California’s Death Valley, the planet’s hottest spot on record.
During the last ice age, mammoths and saber‑toothed tigers roamed the area, and research on the surrounding deposits shows that a lake named “Lake Manly” once stretched 100 miles in length and reached depths of 600 feet. As the climate warmed, the lake shrank and eventually dried out.
The recent deluge, however, caused a white salt flat to soak up enough water to resemble its former form again, leaving both locals and visitors in awe.
Death Valley’s Badwater Basin sits almost 300 feet below sea level, making it North America’s lowest point. Normally, rain falls on the other side of the encircling peaks, but in recent seasons, extreme weather has forced water to pour into the basin.
From September through November of this year, the valley received 2.4 inches of rain, including 1.8 inches in November alone—an amount that eclipsed the 1923 record, as confirmed by the National Park Service. “These fall storms brought more rain than Death Valley typically receives in an entire year,” the NPS reported.
The wet conditions produced a stunning spectacle: a glassy lake that reflected the snow‑capped slopes overhead. While the re‑appearance of “Lake Manly” was brief, it offered an unforgettable view.
According to visitors and park rangers, the latest incarnation of the lake is shallow and unlikely to persist. “It’s the size of a lake but it’s not deep. … It’s more like a very, very large riverbed without the flow — a wading pool maybe,” an employee at Death Valley Inn told the Los Angeles Times. “It’s an attraction but it’s not really a lake,” she added.
Wildflowers flared against the backdrop of the newly appeared waters, creating a picturesque scene.
Between March and February 2024, rainfall filled the basin, and measurements by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) indicated a maximum depth of about 3 feet. At that time, the park had allowed visitors to kayak on the lake’s surface.
The resurgence of “Lake Manly” has boosted local business—an inn worker said the death valley hotel saw up to a 30% increase in guests.
Roads throughout the park, including Badwater Road that leads to the lake, have been temporarily closed. Officials advise motorists to exercise caution when driving through the area.
Park ranger Nichole Andler estimates that the lake may remain visible until early next year. “Some of the best views of the lake are from Dante’s View, and sunrise is a great time to see it,” she told the outlet.
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