Amazing Place or Natural Wonder
Amazing Place or Natural WonderDeath Valley - California
Bruno Pessuto
Geography of Death ValleyLocated in California near its border
with Nevada.The lowest point in the contiguous U.S. at an elevation
of -282 feet (-86 m).One of the hottest and driest in the
country.Area of about 3,000 square miles (7,800 sq km) and runs
from the north to the south.Located only 76 miles (123 km)
fromMount Whitney, The hottest temperature ever recorded was 134F
(57.1C) at Furnace Creek on July 10, 1913.Contains salt pans which
indicate that the area was once a large inland seaMost of the
vegetation consists of low lying shrubs or no vegetation unless
near a water source. Joshua Trees and Bristlecone Pines can be
found at some higher locationsIn the spring after winter rains,
Death Valley is known to have large plant and floral blooms in its
wetter areas.home to many different types of small mammals, birds
and reptiles. There are also a variety of larger mammals in the
area which include Bighorn Sheep, coyotes, bobcats, kit foxes and
mountain lions.Death Valley is home to more than 1000 species of
plants and more than 50 of those are endemics, found nowhere else
in the world
SignificanceBadwater BasinChina RanchDante's ViewFather Crowley
ViewpointFurnace CreekHarmony Borax WorksHells GateHog
RanchMountainsMyers RanchRussell CampNew RyanUpper and Lower
Noonday CampShoreline ButteStovepipe WellsTecopaTecopa Hot
SpringsWest Side Borax CampWilson RanchWildrose Ranger
StationHumans made their mark in Death Valley at least 9,000 years
ago, with rock art and other artifacts left behind as evidence.Home
to Native American tribes, and today the Timbisha tribe inhabits
the region.On February 11, 1933, Death Valley was made a National
Monument byPresident Herbert Hoover. In 1994, the area was
re-designated as a National Park.The valley received its English
name in 1849 during theCalifornia Gold Rush.Notable locations:
Fun FactsSailing stones,sliding rocks, andmoving rocksall refer
to ageological phenomenonwhere rocks move and inscribe long tracks
along a smooth valley floor without human or animal
intervention.Dozens of scenes from Star Wars have been filmed in
Death Valley. Artist's Palette (the Sandcrawler scene fromStar Wars
Episode IV: A New Hope)Golden Canyon (Jawa scenes fromStar Wars
Episode IV: A New Hope)Artist's Palette, aptly named for range of
colors in this rock unit, gets its colors fromoxidation of
differentmetalsUbehebe Crater, researchers believes it's between
2,000 to 7,000 years old, but new findings peg it at 8,000 years
old. But everyone agree it's huge- half a mile wide and 500 to 777
feet deep
Lodging / ActivitiesFurnace Creek ResortBed & Breakfast at
$163
Referenceshttp://geography.about.com/od/unitedstatesofamerica/a/deathvalley.htmhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/pure-adventures-travel/8-weird-facts-about-death_b_4164106.htmlhttp://www.yellowecho.com/travel/death_valley_facts.htmhttp://www.traveladvisortips.com/top-10-interesting-death-valley-facts/
