Lake Manly

As Lake Manly a prehistoric lake is called, filled the Death Valley today in the U.S. state of California during the Pleistocene. At the time of the greatest expansion 186000-128000 years ago he reached a length of approximately 150 kilometers and a maximum depth of 180 meters.

The lake was named in honor of William L. Manly, a participant of the first settlers train from 1849 through Death Valley ( "Valley of Death " ), who explored the region and many members of the tour group saved her life.

The lake dried out even before the start of the Holocene, the basin has been several times since then partially filled again in the context of climate variability. None of the following lakes reached the extent of Lake Manly. With the evaporation of the water fell minerals, especially salts, whose deposits cover the valley floor today. In particular, the Devil's Golf Course and Badwater date back to the prehistoric lake. Other traces of the lake can be found at the valley walls: In the hills of the former water level terraced levels in some places to see.