Death Valley
If you are thinking about taking a trip to Death Valley, California, you better bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and have a quick exit plan when it gets too hot. The temperatures are oppressive, yet millions of people still flock there to see what it is all about. People who visit today are a bit shocked. Rather than looking like a wasteland, it looks more like something in a science-fiction movie. Sign Of Life Abruptly Appears In Death Valley Leaving Experts Completely Confounded. One lucky man got pictures that will blow your mind.
Named In 1848
In 1848, a group of prospectors took a wrong turn, hoping to find a shortcut. They found themselves in the middle of 3.4 million acres dirt, rock and sand. It wasn’t long before they were doing everything that they could to escape with their lives. While trying to find their way back to civilization, several members of the group died. When they finally found a way out, they muttered, “Goodbye Death Valley,” and this is how it got its name.
Millions Of Visitors
Regardless of the horrible conditions, people still visit the area. It is a major tourist spot, and in 2016, 1.3 million visitors visited the National Park to experience the desolate land in all of its wonders. Many people say that they need to experience the climate for themselves. Death Valley holds the record for the highest temperature ever recorded. In 1913, the Furnace Creek region of Death Valley reached a staggering 134-degrees Fahrenheit. It gets so hot that many tourists bring frying pans with them so that they can fry an egg right on the ground.
March 2019
In March 2019, tourists visited Death Valley expecting it to look like the landscape in the Star Wars movies. What they saw was something totally different. On March 6, 2019, rain fell in Death Valley. Compared to the rainfall in average climates, it wasn’t much. For Death Valley, the rainfall seemed like it would cause a flood. On average, Death Valley gets about 0.3 inches of rain. This particular rainfall poured 0.84 inches of rain down on the thirsty plants.
The Rainfall
On March 6, 2019, rain fell in Death Valley, and it was much more than usual. For average climates, this amount of rainfall wouldn’t be considered much. For Death Valley, it is enough to be considered
Elliot Mcgucken
Elliot McGucken is a physicist and a nature photographer. When it rained in 2015, he headed to Death Valley to get some amazing pictures. He drove to the Badwater Basin area of Death Valley and was shocked when he found a large, motionless puddle. It stretched over the ground like a huge mirror that reflected the rocks and the sky. He was hoping that he could get some photos after this rainstorm to compare to those of the last.
Heading Out
Elliot drove for miles through the desert trying to reach Badwater Basin. On his way, his path was blocked. He made it to Salt Creek, which was once a
Contacting Death Valley National Park
Elliot reached out to Death Valley National Park and let them know about the lake that he came across. They told him that they would need aerial photos to determine the actual size of the lake. Elliot got some pretty great pictures, but it made him wonder what this meant for Death Valley.
Complications
Dumping a considerable amount of water on the driest place on Earth can have some complications. Since the water is not absorbed in the desert, it can cause flooding in the area. According to Todd Lericos of the National Weather Service, it is like pouring water on concrete; it just sits there. It is called ephemeral lakes.
Long-Term Effects
The long-term effects of desert lakes are unknown. This kind of rainfall does say a lot about the future of our climate trends. If it can rain in a place that seldom gets rain, what does that say about climate change? Scientists are worried that this is just the beginning of a more damaging environmental episode. Only time will tell what is in store for Death Valley and its climate. What we do know is that the lakes are amazing and something wonderful to see.
