Death Valley National Park
Don't worry. Park rangers guarantee you'll come back alive.
Introduction
When you hear the name Death Valley, you might think, oh big deal, it's just a few sand dunes in California. But when you go there, you will realize it's a lot more than sand. It's an amazing landscape and a great experience.
Welcome to Death Valley
Death Valley is 2,700,000 acres. It is fairly large. Located in California, at the edge of the Mojave dessert, it is the hottest place on earth. Death Valley was named a national park in 1994.
History
Native Americans arrived in Death Valley about 7,000 years ago. Then in the mid-1800s, pioneers discovered Death Valley, But the pioneers were not able to survive in such warm weather and with almost no resources and died off, part of the reason it was appropriately named Death Valley.
Important Landmarks
Here are a few important landmarks you should be sure to visit:
- Furnace creek
- Ubehebe Crater
- The Racetrack
- Badwater
- Teliscope Peak
- Panamint Range
- The Devil's Cornfield
- Last Chance Range
- Devil's Golf Course
- Funeral Mountains
Animals of Death Valley
Here are a few animals native to the park:
- The Kiote
- The Collared Lizard
- The Rattle Snake
- The Ground Squirrel
- The Roadrunner
- The Kit Fox
Bobcat
Drawing by Thomas S.
JackRabbit
Drawing by Thomas S.
Horned Lizard
Photo from NPS website
Activities
In Death Valley there are lots of things to do; you can do the junior Ranger Program, you can hike mountains and deserts, or just watch the view of the sunset setting slowly over the desert; Death Valley has something for everyone.
Other Interesting Information
Did you know that:
- Furnace Creek got a world record tempature of 134 degrees Fahrenheit!
- The Devils Hole Pupfish can survive in water up to 112 degrees Fahrenheit!
- Badwater lies 282 feet below sea level!
Park Seasons and Fees
Seasons:
- Summer: 9:30 A.M. to 4:15 P.M.
- Winter: 8:45 A.M. to 4:45 P.M.
1 person $10, 7 days
1 vehicle $20, 7 days
All images from http://www.nps.gov/deva/index.htm