Death Valley is the lowest, hottest, and driest point in North America. It got its name because of the hardships faced by settlers attempting to cross the valley. Death Valley was declared a national monument in 1933 and was made a national park in 1994.

Geography

Death Valley is a deep trough between two mountain ranges. It is located in Inyo County, in southeastern California. The valley is about 140 miles (225 kilometers) long and 4 to 16 miles (6 to 26 kilometers) wide. Nearly 550 square miles (1,425 square kilometers) of its area lie below sea level. The lowest point in the valley lies 282 feet (86 meters) below sea level near Badwater, a salt pond. This is also the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere. Not far away towers Mount Whitney, which at 14,494 feet (4,418 meters) above sea level is the highest point in the continental United States.

Summer daytime temperatures in the valley often reach 120° F (50° C) in the shade. Winter minimum temperatures rarely fall to freezing point. The average annual rainfall is only about 2 inches (50 millimeters).

Plants and animals

Despite the extreme conditions, Death Valley is home to a variety of plants and animals. The plants include saltgrass, rushes, tamarisks, cacti, and desert wildflowers. Animals found in the valley include rabbits, kangaroo rats, coyotes, and bobcats. The largest animal is the desert bighorn sheep, and there are many lizards. Snakes are rare.

History

For many years Death Valley was little known except to the Panamint Indians who lived in the area before the Europeans came. The area was seldom visited until the 1870s. At that time, gold was discovered in the surrounding mountains and borax deposits were found in the valley. Death Valley's extreme environment now attracts tourists and scientists.