One Of The Hottest, Driest Places In The World Is Experiencing A Rare Flower "Super Bloom"

This is typically what Death Valley, California, looks like — desolate.

Steve Marcus / Reuters

At 282 feet below sea level, the valley has the lowest elevation in North America and sees little to no rain each year. Temperatures can also easily exceed 120 degrees Fahrenheit, baking an already barren, parched landscape.

So at Death Valley National Park — the world record holder for hottest temperature at 134F in 1913 — only the hardiest of vegetation manage to eek out an existence.

Lucy Nicholson / Reuters

But on rare occasions, spurts of above-average rainfall can transform this barren landscape because wildflower seeds lay dormant for years.

The average annual rainfall for Death Valley is about two inches, but a series of unusual storms in October dumped more than three inches in some areas, setting the stage for a transformation.

In recent days, all those wildflowers came to life after the rains and created a so-called "super bloom," transforming the valley into sea of color.

Jae C. Hong / AP

Gillian Flaccus / AP

To keep tabs on the super bloom and information on the best spots to see the flowers, visit www.dvnha.org or www.nps.gov/deva.

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