Death Valley, a place of deadly beauty When Tom mentioned that he wanted to visit Death Valley, I thought he must be nuts! I told him it is a wide expanse of desolate desert with nothing to see but sand. That was the memory I had of the area from when I was a child. True, there is a portion of the National Park that is characterized by rolling sand dunes and very little vegetation, but that’s only the tip of the proverbial iceberg. This fascinating land is full of sights to wonder at, and places to stop and take fantastic photos. When you go there, if you just plan to drive through as we did, you should be certain your vehicle is fully fueled, and has plenty of coolant in the radiator. It’s HOT! Don’t forget I told you that, it’s hot. On parched summer days, the mercury climbs above 120 degrees on a regular basis. You should also take large quantities of water, and some food. It’s best to have at least a gallon of water per person, per day when venturing into the park. Be sure to stay on the roads. Remember, off-road travel can be dangerous as well as cause damage to delicate scenery. Be sure to take along clothing to protect yourself from the sun, and wear a wide-brimmed hat. In the winter, you’ll need a sweater or a light jacket.
Death Valley is a part of Death Valley National Park, which covers an area of more than 3.3 million acres. The National Park includes Saline Valley, Eureka Valley and a large part of Panamint Valley in addition to the main portion itself. This harsh land is home to 51 species of mammals, 38 reptiles, 346 varieties of birds and two fish species (the Salt Creek pupfish and Cottonball Marsh pupfish.) The borax of twenty-mule-team fame, was found and mined a couple of miles north of Furnace Creek. Over the years, there have been miners searching for gold, silver and lead, but borax is the only substance that has been profitably mined in Death Valley. Eighteen miles south of the Furnace Creek Visitors Center, you’ll come to Badwater Basin, the lowest place in North America. Visit Scotty’s Castle and revel in the eclectic history of this desert anomaly. Wonder at the marvels of the Racetrack and its odd tracks in the sun-baked mud. There is more to do and see in in this wild, spacious land than I had ever imagined, and I’m glad my husband has an attraction pulling him to the desert. If it were not for him, I may have missed the wonder and beauty of Death Valley.
Grab this swicki from eurekster.com |
