California’s newest lake is slowly shrinking, although officials are unsure when it’ll vanish completely. In August, Hurricane Hilary brought a deluge of rain to the United States southwest. The Category 4 storm had weakened considerably before it hit the U.S., and rain was the biggest concern. The precipitation was welcome news for many parched lakes and reservoirs in the region, including Lake Mead, which was bolstered by the influx of water. However, the storm also created lakes where they don’t usually exist—such as Death Valley National Park, the hottest place on Earth and the driest part of North America.

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