Death Valley is a desert valley in Eastern California, in the northern Mojave Desert, bordering the Great Basin Desert. During summer, it is one of the hottest places on Earth, along with deserts in the Middle East and the Sahara.
This place is recognized as the hottest and driest place on our planet, for which it is called the "Valley of Death.
Temperatures can reach up to 57 degrees Celsius.
The average annual rainfall is about 50 mm. Some years it doesn't rain at all. Lake Bedouter, located in the valley, is the lowest place in North America. Mount Whitney, towering 140 kilometers from the lake, on the contrary, is considered the highest point.
In the 19th century, gold prospectors came to the area, founding settlements with original names such as "Froggy Bull" or "Get Out of Here." When the reserves of mines were exhausted, these settlements were abandoned, turning into ghost towns. Today, the "ghost towns" have entertainment centers and amusement rides.
The park was declared a natural monument in 1993.
In 1994, the National Park Death Valley was formed. The boundaries of the natural site were expanded to include several mountain systems and the Panamint and Salina valleys.
