Canyon Visitors In Death Valley Might Witness A Scary, Rare 'Desert Tsunami'

California is known for its sun-kissed beaches, bucolic wine regions, and rugged peaks, but around 38% of the Golden State is made up of desert. While visitors flock to spots such as Palm Springs and the mountain views from the popular trails in Joshua Tree, Death Valley National Park still remains somewhat under the radar. Stretching across northern California and into Nevada, it's the United States' largest national park outside of Alaska.

This 3.4 million-acre reserve occupies some of the most inhospitable terrain on the planet, and is also the site of the highest temperature ever recorded on earth: 134.1 degrees at the appropriately-named Furnace Creek Ranch back in 1910. That said, Death Valley National Park is a place of stark desert beauty that's well worth exploring, especially if you follow these tips for a safe road trip through the region. One of Death Valley's great draws is that it's a unique destination where you can expect the unexpected, such as Devil's Hole — an oasis on the outskirts of the park. Aside from being home to the critically endangered Devil's Hole pupfish, this pool is also one of the few places on earth where visitors can witness the bizarre — and very rare — phenomenon known as a "desert tsunami," where faraway earthquakes trigger stand alone waves in this hidden body of water. 

Situated in a 40-acre detached unit of Death Valley National Park across the Nevada state line, Devil's Hole is a massive cavern filled with freshwater that reaches depths of 500 feet. It's so deep that the bottom has yet to be mapped. This unique geological feature connected with Ash Meadows, a complex of natural springs that make up an immense aquifer.

The location of Devil's Hole means that it's unusually sensitive to seismic events all over the planet. When conditions are right, a faraway earthquake can produce the strange "desert tsunami," resulting in waves over 6 feet high that splash up the walls of the cave. Known as a "seiche," rumblers in places as far away as Japan, Indonesia, Mexico, and Chile have produced these eerie waves, though most any large quake — 7.0 or above — along the Pacific Rim's "Ring of Fire" will register at Devil's Hole.

Devil's Hole is also home to an endangered fish called the Devil's Hole pupfish. Isolated between 10,000 and 20,000 years ago, the fish — that number less than 200 — survive on algae and single-celled organisms known as diatoms that settle on a rock shelf near the surface. The earthquakes can clean off this shelf, putting the fish's food supply at risk. That said, despite being incredibly rare, the Devil's Hole pupfish are nothing if not survivors, and they've managed to weather recent "desert tsunamis" unscathed.

With deep canyons, rocky mountains, salt flats, and sand dunes, Death Valley National Park is a terrific place for hiking. The park is home to scores of trails ranging from short jaunts to multi-night backpacking trips, just make sure to bring plenty of water and sun protection, and avoid the park in the summer, where temperatures can reach a sizzling 120 degrees.

Many people choose instead to explore Death Valley by vehicle. The park is crisscrossed with both paved roads and dirt tracks, and its vastness means that you can cover a lot of ground and still not even begin to see it all — though this one-way drive through the colorful terrain is a must. However, the region is rough and remote, which means help is far away (and expensive) if you break down, so you may want to consider renting a specially-outfitted 4x4, even if you own one.

Death Valley is also one of the premier spots in the country when it comes to stargazing, so much so that it was classified Gold Tier (the highest level) by the International Dark Sky Association. The sky comes alive at night, transforming into a glimmering tapestry of heavenly bodies that are best viewed from sites such as Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Harmony Borax Works, Badwater Basin and Ubehebe Crater. For the greatest effect, this is the best time to view the Milky Way in Death Valley National Park.