ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Lake Lucero

Lake Lucero is a very special lake found in a deserty place called White Sands in New Mexico. It is special because it is not like any other lake you have ever seen. Instead of being filled with water all the time, it only has water when it rains.

The way it gets filled is very interesting too! When it rains, the water from the rain travels through the ground until it reaches a special spot in the ground that is like a sponge. This special spot is called a "playa."

When it rains enough, the water fills up the playa and makes it look like a lake! This is what happens at Lake Lucero. It only gets water when it rains enough to fill up the playa.

Sometimes, the water in Lake Lucero goes away quickly because the sun is so hot, and it takes up all the water. But when it has water in it, it is a beautiful place where you can see all kinds of cool animals like bugs and lizards.

So, to summarize, Lake Lucero is a special lake that only gets water when it rains a lot, and it is located in a deserty place called White Sands in New Mexico.