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Death Valley National Park
With areas including Coffin Peak, Funeral Mountains, Hell's Gate, Dead Man Pass and Starvation Canyon, it’s a wonder why any sane person would venture into this neck of the woods!
Aptly named by gold-seekers, due to the high fatality rate crossing the valley during the 1849 California gold rush, Death Valley has all the great divisions of geological time, the eras and most of their subdivisions are represented in the rocks of the mountains bordering the great valley. These rocks and the land forms tell a story of endless changes in the earth's crust, vast depositions, contortions, tiltings, alternate risings and lowerings, faultings and intense heats and pressures that changed the very nature of some rocks.
The valley is unique because it is the driest, hottest location in North America, with summer temperatures averaging well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. It encompasses the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere at 282 feet below the level of the sea and is the driest place due to an average rainfall of only 1.96 inches a year.
With over 3.3 million acres of stunning desert scenery, the valley is a sight to behold, the morning light beams its way across the eroded badlands of Zabriskie Point to strike Manly Beacon and the colours of myriad wildflowers on the golden hills above Harmony Borax are a beautiful scene on a warm spring day.
Death Valley is home to rare desert wildlife including a panamint pocket gopher, a desert cottontail, a Brazilian free-tailed bat, a merriam’s kangaroo rat, a kit fox and a desert bighorn sheep. With the valley’s complex geology, undisturbed wilderness and sites of historical interest, ecologically, its plants and animals are representative of the Mojave Desert.
Stores/Museums
Heading towards the centre of the park is the Furnace Creek Visitor Centre, which houses museum exhibits, the Death Valley Natural History Association bookstore and a visitor information desk.
Tours
Costumed living history tours of Scotty's Castle are available every day from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Limited to a maximum of 19 people per tour, tickets are available on the day of the tour on a first come first served basis at the Castle ticket Office. The tour is $8.00 per adult. With discounts for children and people with Golden Age Cards.
Other Events
The Death Valley 49er's annual encampment takes place in the second weekend of November, drawing thousands of campers to art shows, sing alongs, backcountry tours and square dances. During the peak season, November through April, guided talks, hikes and evening programs are presented. A weekly schedule of programs is available at the Visitor Centre.
Food/Supplies
Stovepipe Wells Village and the Furnace Creek Ranch both provide small camper stores with staple food and limited supplies. There are also gas stations at both locations.
Further Information
Located 160 miles from the Strip, on the eastern border of south-central California and includes a small area of Nevada. Admission is $10.00 per vehicle, valid for seven days and the campground fees range from $10.00 to $16.00 per night. The park is open 24 hours a day, year round and most park facilities have been upgraded for accessibility with others being used with assistance.
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