varying size in a complex cycle mainly tied to changing climate patterns (particularly, glaciation during the numerous recent Ice Age cycles), but also influenced by the progressive depositing of alluvial plains and deltas by the Colorado River (cf. Salton Sea), alternating with periodic water body breakthroughs and rearrangements due to erosion and the proximity of the San Andreas Fault. This has resulted in a high number of evaporating and reforming endorheic lakes throughout the Quaternary Period in the area, with an intertwined history of various larger bodies of water subsuming smaller ones during water table maxima and the subsequent splitting and disappearance thereof during the evaporative part of the cycles. Although these local cycles are now somewhat modified by human presence, their legacy persists; despite appearances much to the contrary, Death Valley actually sits atop one of the largest aquifers in the world. Throughout the Quaternary's wetter spans, streams running from nearby mountains filled Death Valley, creating Lake Manly, which during its greatest extents was approximately 80 mi (130 km) long and up to 600 ft (180 m) deep. Numerous evaporation cycles and a lack of outflow caused an increasing hypersalinity, typical for endorheic bodies of water. Over time, this hypersalinization, combined with sporadic rainfall and occasional aquifer intrusion, has resulted in periods of "briny soup", or salty pools, on the lowest parts of Death Valley's floor. Salts (95% table salt – NaCl) began to crystallize, coating the surface with the thick crust, ranging from , now observable at the basin floor. The Timbisha tribe of Native Americans, formerly known as the Panamint Shoshone, are the original inhabitants of the Badwater Basin area. They have inhabited the valley for at least the past millennium. See also Death Valley pupfish List of elevation extremes by country List of elevation extremes by region References Notes Further reading Don J. Easterbrook (Hrsg): Quaternary Geology of the United States. Geological Society of America 2003, , S.63–64 John McKinney: California's Desert Parks: A Day Hiker's Guide. Wilderness Press 2006, , S. 54–55 External links Badwater Basin in the Encyclopædia Britannica Death Valley Death Valley National Park Endorheic basins of the United States Lakes of the Mojave Desert Lowest points Salt flats of California Landforms of Inyo County, California Landforms of San Bernardino County, California Springs of California Bodies of water of San Bernardino County, California Lakes of Southern California Lakes of California