Kayakers Glide Through Death Valley’s Rare ‘Glazed Donut’ Lake

Death Valley, the hottest and driest place in North America, is making waves—literally. After record-breaking rains flooded California’s desert landscape, Lake Manly has reemerged in Badwater Basin, transforming the iconic salt flats into a temporary oasis perfect for kayaking.

Park Ranger Nichole Andler called the phenomenon \"extremely uncommon,\" noting the basin has received over double its annual rainfall in just six months. What’s usually a blinding white salt flat is now a shimmering lake up to 0.3 meters deep, stretching nearly 10 kilometers long. \"If it's not once-in-a-lifetime, it's nearly,\" she said.

Visitors like Heather and Bob Gang seized the chance to paddle where they once stood on bone-dry ground. \"It’s good to see little kids enjoying something totally unique,\" Bob shared, after giving a young girl a kayak ride. Meanwhile, locals Trudell Artiglere and Sheri Dee Hopper joked their salt-crusted kayaks looked like \"glazed donuts\" by day’s end.

But hurry—the lake could vanish by April. Scientists say climate change might make such events less predictable, but for now, Death Valley’s surreal waters are a reminder of nature’s wild surprises.

Reference(s):

Kayakers paddle in Death Valley after rains replenish lake

cgtn.com