AMARGOSA VALLEY (KTNV) — The 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula on July 29 was felt nearly 4,000 miles away by tiny residents in Death Valley, according to the National Park Service.
Devils Hole, a water-filled cave approximately 12 feet wide and more than 500 feet deep, is home to the Devils Hole pupfish, described by NPS as "one of the world's rarest fish."
The pupfish depend on a shallow shelf within the cave to feed and breed, NPS explained. When the water in Devils Hole is disturbed, it can affect the fish's primary food source, algae that grow on the shelf.
With the recent earthquake, the pupfish experienced 10-inch waves that "removed some materials" from the area, NPS said.
With only 38 fish counted during their official survey in March, it's critical that the pupfish do not lose access to their regular food source — but NPS said the timing of the earthquake "is less concerning for the pupfish" due to the sun being in an ideal position to regrow the lost algae.
NPS notes that the pupfish are also known to increase their spawning rates after disturbances, prompting scientists to hope for a "rebound" in the population.
This isn't the first time earthquakes have shaken up the residents of Devils Hole — NPS shared an in-depth breakdown on April 15 detailing how recent seismic activity has affected the pupfish population.
