Heavy rains in Death Valley form massive lake, drawing tourists

(CNN) – Tourists are flocking to one of the hottest places on Earth to witness something quite unusual.

A temporary lake has appeared right in the middle of one of the driest regions in the U.S. because of the state of California’s record heavy rain this season.

Death Valley is 282 feet below sea level and is the lowest point in North America and the hottest place on the planet.

Now, Death Valley is attracting visitors with its cool lake water.

Adam Schultheis and Marina Crosley traveled to the area with friends from Las Vegas.

Schultheis described Death Valley’s condition as “like a Garden of Eden.”

Crosley said she can check the visit off her bucket list.

“And you don’t know when it’s gonna happen again,” she said.

The last time the lake appeared was 19 years ago. However, Abby Wines, a Death Valley Park ranger, said things are changing this time.

“The climate change models for this area predict warmer temperatures, which we are definitely seeing and also more intense rainstorms,” she said.

Nonetheless, the massive lake is a marvel even for Wines.

“Normally there’s a lot more evaporative potential than there is rainfall coming in,” she said. “Meaning that this is usually just a dry salt flat.”

On average, Death Valley gets about two inches of rain a year. In the last half year, however, the park has been walloped with nearly five inches of rain, Wines said.

Wines said the rains brought on from tropical storm Hilary in August brought the rainiest day the park has had on record.

The lake’s waters are also extremely salty, as those who have taken to kayaking on the lake’s surface have found.

Anyone wanting to experience the lake for themselves should do so before the desert starts to heat up and eventually cause the lake to evaporate.