Death Valley is a very unique and fascinating park. It is a
land of stark contrasts and great natural extremes. It is the largest
National Park in the lower 48 states and as a National Park, only dates from
1994. It is big, and as a result you need at
least 3-4 days to get a "feel" for the park and to visit most of the major
attractions which are spread out all over the park.
Death Valley
is a land of solitude, it is a land of heat and it is the land
of records. What do Libya, Algeria, and Iraq have in common with
Death Valley? These areas all have some of the hottest
temperatures on the planet consistently in the summer time. The
hottest temperature outside of one location in Libya came from
Death Valley in 1913.
On average Death Valley is
the hottest spot on the planet. Badwater is the lowest place in the Western
Hemisphere and also among the driest locations in the world. In the summer,
Telescope peak at above 11,000 feet can be downright pleasant and is covered
with pine trees while the valley floor bakes in the mid 120's and appears to
be stark and barren. Or conversely in the winter, you may need crampons and
an ice ax to summit Telescope Peak as it is covered in snow and ice.
 |
|
July is the
hottest month with temperatures averaging 115 degrees and night
time temperatures sometimes not falling below 100 degrees.
At first glance Death Valley may appear stark and uninviting to the
untrained eye. Get out and visit some of the attractions mentioned in this
article, talk to the rangers, get out and do some hikes (provided the
temperature is reasonable), and you will have a different perspective of
this one of a kind valley.
We have visited Death Valley a number of times and each time we
discover something new! We cover a variety
Death Valley National Park Attractions
in this article.
Read on for more information... |
|
About
Dave's Pick