Mud Flats at Sunset
Although it's one of the driest places on Earth, there's still plenty of evidence for the presence of water in Death Valley National Park, such as these mud cracks. The area is surrounded by a lot of river rocks, i.e., rocks that have been tumbled and worn smooth all around as if at the bottom of a river.
The mountains that surround the valley get a fair amount of precipitation, particularly the Panamints on the west side, and the runoff brings heavily mineralized water into the valley. The lowest point, in Badwater Basin, is covered by mineral salts.
Mud Flats at Sunset
Although it's one of the driest places on Earth, there's still plenty of evidence for the presence of water in Death Valley National Park, such as these mud cracks. The area is surrounded by a lot of river rocks, i.e., rocks that have been tumbled and worn smooth all around as if at the bottom of a river.
The mountains that surround the valley get a fair amount of precipitation, particularly the Panamints on the west side, and the runoff brings heavily mineralized water into the valley. The lowest point, in Badwater Basin, is covered by mineral salts.