Badwater Basin

Covering almost 200 square miles within Death Valley National Park and located at 282 feet below sea level, Badwater Basin is the lowest point in all of North America. It also ranks among the largest protected salt flats in the world. The salt was deposited here as part of a natural drainage system covering 9,000 square miles. Trapped in the arid basin and unable to reach the sea, the salt crystals form layers of crust over the muddy soil below, resulting in an environment far too harsh for plants or animals to survive.

The crust is quite fragile, however, so vehicles are prohibited and hiking is constrained to marked trails. After heavy rains, pools or even a lake may form temporarily, but the water soon evaporates in the desert climate, where temperatures can easily top 125ºF and average 115ºF throughout the summer. The majority of the salt here is sodium chloride, the same as table salt, although a number of other evaporative minerals may be mixed in, including borax, calcite, and gypsum.

In 2003, the parking area at Badwater Basin was enlarged to accommodate increasing numbers of visitors at the site. On the way in, along Badwater Road, a sign has been posted that reads "sea level," giving a clear indication of just how deep the bottom of the basin truly is.