Miracle of nature in 'Valley of Death'! 'Ice Age Lake' comes alive after 10 thousand years

New Delhi: America’s ‘Death Valley’ is infamous all over the world for its deadly heat and dryness. It is one of the hottest and driest places on Earth. But in the last few weeks, such a miracle of nature has been seen here which has surprised even the scientists. Here records are being broken not for heat but for rainfall. This area of the Mojave Desert has received so much rain that an ancient lake that had disappeared thousands of years ago has come alive again. This is being considered a rare incident. National Park Service (NPS) has also confirmed this.

How did ‘Lake Manly’ return after 10 thousand years?

Badwater Basin is the lowest point in North America. This is where ‘Lake Manly’ used to be. History tells that this lake was at its peak during the Ice Age. At that time this lake used to be about 300 meters i.e. 1000 feet deep. But as the ice age ended, this lake also dried up.

It has not been seen in its permanent form for the last 10,000 years. But the recent record-breaking rains have once again brought it on the world map. Although this lake is not very deep right now. According to the NPS, the water level in many places is only ‘above shoes’. This means that boating is not possible here right now. Still, the appearance of water in the middle of the desert is no less than a miracle.

Rain broke all previous records

Death Valley is counted among the driest places on Earth. The average rainfall here is less than 2 inches in a year. But this time the weather has taken a turn. According to statistics, the wettest autumn (September to November) has ever been recorded in Death Valley.

During this period there has been 2.41 inches of rain. If we talk only about the month of November, it has also made a record. 1.76 inches of rain has been recorded in November. This figure may sound very small. But this is a big thing in terms of Death Valley.

Miracle in Death Valley! Where people used to yearn for every drop, now a lake is flowing there. (Photo: NPS/S.Sanford)

When a year’s worth of rain falls in a single month at some place, the situation is sure to change. It is as if nature has opened the tap of the sky to quench the thirst of the desert.

Is this a warning of climate change?

Scientists have not yet been able to tell the exact reason for this unusual weather. But it is being linked to climate change. Weather patterns are changing all over the world. Somewhere there is drought and somewhere there is flood. This incident of Death Valley can also be a part of this series.
As the Earth warms, extreme weather events are becoming more severe. This lake reminds us that the land around us that is dry today was not always like this. Millions of years ago there used to be ice and rivers here. Between 128,000 and 186,000 years ago, Lake Manly was at its peak and extended for 100 miles.

There is excitement among tourists about the return of the lake. But the administration has advised to exercise caution. Many roads have been covered with debris due to storm and rain. Many paved and unpaved roads of the park are currently closed. Officials have appealed to the tourists to check the latest information on the government website before coming. Apart from this, it is not yet clear what effect this unseasonal rain will have on the famous wild flowers here.