It looks like snow, but this is salt. Death Valley was once at the bottom of ancient Lake Manly; as climate changed and the water evaporated, salt and other minerals stayed behind. In parts of the massive salt pan of Death Valley, there are channels that occasionally run with bitterly saline water.

These salt flats are near Mustard Canyon, close to the northern end of the great salt pan.

Death Valley NP, CA-- March 2008