Joshua Tree National Park
Southeastern California
History
Successive Native American cultures inhabited this area for thousands of years. Villages were founded near desert oases and tribespeople harvested desert plants for food, medicine and building materials, as well as hunted wildlife such as bighorn sheep. Starting in the mid-19th century, miners and ranchers arrived. This area was also the birthplace of the California desert-conservation movement. The 1994 California Desert Protection Act turned it into a national park.
Wildlife
There are over 250 species of bird in the park including resident desert birds such as the Greater Roadrunner and Cactus Wren. Lizards and ground squirrels are most likely to be seen because they are largely active during the day. Most of the nocturnal animals include: snakes, bighorn sheep, kangaroo rats, coyotes, and black-tailed jackrabbits.
And
Sand dunes, lakes, flat valleys, mountains, monoliths, and oases are all found within the park.
Geology
The rock formations of the park were formed 100 million years ago from the cooling of magma beneath the surface. Groundwater is responsible for the erosion that created the spheres from rectangular blocks.
Things To Do
- Camping
- Hiking Trails
- Nature Trails
- Mountain Biking
- Rock Climbing
- Ranger Program