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. 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 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. 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.
Some of the main Death Valley National Park Attractions covered in this
article include Badwater, Furnace Creek, Racetrack Playa, Ubehebe Crater,
and Scotty's Castle.
