After many trips to Death Valley National Park over the past 30+ years, I finally was treated to the temporary spectacle of two lakes appearing in one of the driest places on earth - Lake Manly and Lake Panamint. The rash of Atmospheric Rivers that hit southern California during the winter of 2023-24 dumped lots of rain on Death Valley.  Consequently, Badwater Basin was filled with water to re-form Lake Manly. The lake was deep enough to people to paddle kayaks and SUPs, but its surface was still well below sea level.  Further east, Lake Panamint formed at a low point of the Panamint Valley along Hwy 190.  While not nearly as extensive, the reflections of the surrounding mountains made it no less amazing.

Click on any image to view larger and scroll through the portfolio. The first 9 photos are Lake Manly; the last 3 are of Lake Panamint.