Badwater

Badwater Basin

USGS map of part of Badwater Basin from 1986
USGS map of part of Badwater Basin from 1986

At the lowest point of the valley, Badwater is an area of salt pans and springs. This pan, formed mostly from a lake that dried up about two thousand years ago, shows many nice features. From time to time, the basin floods creating small lakes that last a few months. The last lake, in the winter of 2004-5, was about three feet deep. Kayaking was temporarily added to the list of things to do in the valley.

“New Lake Manly” – Special Section

Signage near the roadway.
Signage near the roadway.
Telescope Peak reflected in one of the small perennial pools at Badwater.
Telescope Peak reflected in one of the small perennial pools at Badwater.
badwater-basin-dry-nov-07
Badwater Basin in November 2007
Along the front of the Black Mountains at Badwater are many debris cones. The varying colors are the result of different ages of desert varnish. The more horizontal features visible about midway in the photo are strandline deposits from Lake Manly, at a lower stage (about 300' deep).
Along the front of the Black Mountains at Badwater are many debris cones. The varying colors are the result of different ages of desert varnish. The more horizontal features visible about midway in the photo are strandline deposits from Lake Manly, at a lower stage (about 300′ deep).

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