Death Valley, USA - one of the most interesting places in all of America, the temperature in which exceeds all permissible values. It is the hottest on the planet, but nevertheless very popular with tourists, because there is something to see here.
What is Death Valley: information
Death Valley is America's national park (Death valley park). It is the largest in the country after Alaska. The name is scary, one immediately gets the impression that this is a scorched earth, where there is no place for anything living, but this is not at all the case. The nature of this place is unique. Here you can find:
- canyons carved by water;
- singing sand dunes;
- moving stones;
- oases with palm trees;
- weathered mountains.
In addition, there is a fairly large species diversity of the fauna.
In this place, there is always a high temperature and very dry air, in which there is always a suspension of small light grains of sand.
Important! Summer temperatures can reach 49 ° C, but there have been higher values.
The name itself should not be misleading. The Valley of Death was called the madmen who dared to try their luck during the "gold rush" and were forced, moving through Arizona and Nevada, to endure great hardships here. Today, the Furness Creek oasis has all the conditions for tourists.
National park
Death Valley National Park is located in the state of California and captures a small chunk of the state of Nevada. The driest area in America is 13 518 sq. km... Park foundation date - October 31, 1994 Before it was recognized as a national park, they tried to extract gold on the territory.
The park includes two more valleys - Panamint and Salina, as well as several mountain ranges. In this place, the second deepest ground point in the Western Hemisphere is located - 86 m below sea level.
How to get there
If an excursion to the sights of America is ordered, then a visit to Death Valley is included in a trip to Las Vegas. You can go on your own in several ways: from the east along Highway 95, at the Death Valley intersection, you will need to turn onto road 190. Alternatively, drive further north via Vitti, Nevada on Route 58.
Important! Before traveling through the national park, be sure to find out which roads are currently blurred. This will save a lot of time.
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When traveling in the desert in summer, don't get off the main road. If the car breaks down, you must definitely wait for the appearance of the police patrol car. In addition, be sure to have a sufficient amount of gasoline and a lot of water with you.
When is the best time to go
The most popular time of the year is spring, when it is not yet so hot here and all the vegetation is blooming, which is a unique sight. However, you will have to make reservations in advance, as there will be no place to stay in Death Valley during the height of the spring season. Tourists from all over the world come here. You shouldn't go to the desert in summer, the weather this season is terribly uncomfortable, the temperature goes off scale, and there will be no desire to take a walk.
Advice! The most comfortable time of day to visit Death Valley is morning or evening.
Death Valley landmarks
The length of the American national park is very large, nature has tried its best here, and therefore there is something to see in the desert. For a thorough inspection and study of all interesting things, 1-2 days are not enough, many come to the USA purposefully to this place.
Dante view
Dante View is the second highest mountain in the park, with a beautiful view of the entire valley. It cannot be reached by car; you will have to cover a distance of about 300 m on foot. The very point of Badwater is located right at the foot of the mountain.
Canyon 20 Mules (20 Mule Team Road)
It is a one-way dirt road that runs along the main highway in the valley. The interesting canyon itself is hidden behind it. The road got its name in honor of 20 mules who took part in the construction of the first version of this road in the US Death Valley.
Important! It is worth paying attention to the fact that the road is very narrow, there are no parking lots on it. Therefore, when stopping here to take a photo, you need to be very careful.
Zabriskie Point
Every place in this desert is unusual and unique, Zabriskie Point is no exception. Standing on it, there is a feeling of being on another planet. It is part of a mountain range made up of sediments that formed in the valley of a lake that dried out 5 million years ago... The Valley of Death itself was not even in sight, but the ridge was already there.
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Interesting! This is the most popular place in the desert. Sunsets and sunrises are met here, which look very picturesque here.
Trail Badland Loop
The length of the road - about 5 km, the height difference on it - 164 m... It is incredibly interesting to make such a trip. These feelings will be remembered for a lifetime. It is better to walk on it before sunrise.
Furnace Creek
Furnes Creek is an oasis located in the heart of Death Valley, with roads leading just here. It has everything you need for a multi-day stay in this unusual place:
- hotels;
- campgrounds;
- mail;
- restaurants;
- Museum;
- refueling;
- score;
- visit center.
It even has its own small airport. All the main roads of the national park lead to this oasis. After resting in this place, you can decide where to go next and what else to see.
Badwater Basin
This is the deepest depression in all of North America - 86 m below sea level. The name literally translates as "bad water". The place is named so because all the water that accumulates in the salt marsh contains a huge amount of dissolved minerals and is completely unsuitable for drinking. The salt field, which is located here, changes regularly: new lakes may periodically appear here, new salt may appear.
Interesting! Just 136 km from this place is the highest point of the continental United States, Mount Whitney (Sequoia Park). Its height is over 4 thousand meters.
Devils Golf Course
This place is located 16 km from the Badwater Salt Flats and, like it, is one of the islets of the dried-up Lake Manly. It is formed by petrified salt mixed with clay, which has been exposed to wind, sun and rain for many years. As a result, the surface is a glazed mass that consists of sharp peaks of dirty salt. From a distance, this place resembles a plowed field, therefore, adding a little humor, it was nicknamed the golf course.
Interesting! If you hit one of the salt lances with a hammer or an ax, it will break off with the sound of breaking glass.
Artist's Palette Drive
Artist Drive is located on a small offshoot of the main road that leads to the picturesque hills, called the Artist's Palette due to its beauty. The amazing thing about this place is that the minerals and salts that come out of the ground have painted the hills in all the colors of the spectrum.
Golden Canyon
Traveling through the Golden Canyon is not long, but challenging as it is especially hot in this place. He meets tourists first, and gives a general impression of all the canyons of the national park. The name corresponds to the color of the rocks that form the canyon - they are bright gold in color.
Ubehebe Crater
The word “ubehebe” is translated from the language of the local population as “big basket”. This is a crater of volcanic origin. It was formed after a powerful breakthrough of magma.Around this landmark is a volcanic ash surface. Many people wonder why it is so smooth. The answer is simple: it has been simply sanded by the wind over the years.
Interesting! An incredibly strong warm wind blows near the crater, which literally knocks you down.
Racetrack Playa and moving stones
Driving on this plane is incredibly difficult, the car shakes all over, as if on a washboard, but you should definitely look at the place. Here you can see stones of various sizes that crawl across the field, leaving a trail behind them. They move constantly. This is one of the most famous landmarks in the valley.
Interesting! The reasons for this phenomenon are still unknown.
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
The Mesquite Dunes are the most easily accessible dunes in the valley, reaching a height of at 30 m... They are not the highest, not the only ones here, but they are located near one of the oases.
Important! It is very hot on the dunes, so you should definitely take a supply of water with you.
What to see in Death Valley in 1, 2 or 3 days
To travel through this national park, it is worth planning your itinerary in advance. This will allow you not to waste precious time and see as many attractions as possible.
For 1 day
For 1 day it is worth doing the following:
- be sure to see the Valley from Dante View;
- visit Zabriskie Point:
- Badwater;
- Artist Drive;
- dunes Mesquite.
This will ensure that all major attractions have been seen.
In 2 days
The first day is better to start from the Dante View observation deck. Further down the list:
- Zabriskie Point, worth seeing twice - at dusk and dawn;
- 20 mule road;
- Furness Creek oasis;
- the Badwater Salt Flats and the Devil's Golf Course;
- Golden Canyon trail
- Artist Drive;
The second day can be started at dawn at Zabriskie Point. Further down the list:
- Ubehebe Crater;
- a ride to the moving rocks at Racetrack Playa (only by 4WD vehicle);
- dunes Mesquite.
In 3 days
If you plan to stay in this place for 3 days, then the excursion can be supplemented with not the most popular, but no less spectacular places:
- Darwin Falls;
- Rainbow Canyon;
- Dunes of Eureka;
- Saline Valley Hot Springs;
- Mosaic Canyon;
- Bridged Bridge;
- Hole-in-the-Wall.
There are other attractive places in the national park, so it is worth planning your trip taking into account individual preferences.
What to ride in Death Valley
It is better to travel around Death Valley in a car with four-wheel drive, which can be rented. This will make it much easier to travel to many attractions, as the road in the US desert is very difficult. It is important to have a good climate control system in the car, otherwise you can get heatstroke.
Ticket price
Entry of one car costs 25 $*... This ticket is issued for 7 days... But there are no checkpoints or barriers at any entrance. Therefore, if the trip is planned for 1 day, you can save money. But you also need to remember about renting a car (about $ 30 per day), a hotel or camping, if you plan to spend several days there.
Important! It is worth booking rooms and campsites during the tourist season well in advance of visiting the site.
Interesting Facts
Death Valley has become a national treasure in 1933, and it became a National Park in 1994
There are amazing elevation changes here, you can see this by simply driving a car along the main road.
Comes here every year about 1 million tourists.
Once upon a time there were lakes on the site of this desert, and all of it was wrapped in a layer of snow and glaciers.
Death Valley USA is a unique, interesting place that attracts the attention of many tourists. It is suitable for those who like to discover new horizons for themselves, looking for a connection with nature, away from the bustle of the city. Children are unlikely to like the place, it is too hot for them, so there is no need to risk it. Death Valley is not suitable for family travel.
* Prices are valid for March 2021.
