El Nino gives Death Valley a rare colourful makeover

March 7, 2016 5:58 PM | Skymet Weather Team

While El Nino has been bringing rain to California, the Death Valley National Park in the state has reaped the benefits. The California desert is now covered in a colourful carpet of white, purple, pink and gold wildflowers.

El Nino has turned the otherwise dry and barren Death Valley into a super bloom. Usually, if Death Valley gets any rain, it is about two inches in one year. This year due to heavy rains in the region last year, a super bloom has occurred in the Death Valley.

The last time people saw a super bloom like this one was in February 2005. While a few flowers here and there is not uncommon in Death Valley, a super bloom as this one is a rare occurrence. Flowers began to bloom early in January, and now the entire valley looks like a colourful carnival.

The once in a blue moon phenomenon has been attracting visitors from all across the globe. Last year, during October the region received some 3 inches of rain in a span of two weeks. This paved way for nature to paint a vivid painting.

The Death Valley National Park is the hottest and the driest place in North America. The region had observed a temperature of 57 degrees Celsius on July 10, 1913. It also comprises the lowest area in North America, called Badwater Basin, which is 282 feet below the sea level.

Image Credit: bbc.co.uk; Tom Wittwer; Sivani Babu

 

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