Death Valley California

Death Valley, situated primarily in Inyo County, southeastern California, United States, is recognized as the lowest, hottest, and driest region within the North American continent. Spanning approximately 140 miles (225 km) in length, it trends predominantly north-south and measures between 5 to 15 miles (8 to 24 km) in width. The valley is delineated on the west by the Panamint Range and on the east by the Black, Funeral, and Grapevine mountains of the Amargosa Range. It is located near the undefined border between the Great Basin and the Mojave Desert.

Geologically, Death Valley constitutes a segment of the southwesternmost part of the Great Basin. It shares similarities with other structural basins in the area but stands out for its depth. Parts of the great salt pan that make up the valley's floor represent the lowest elevations of the Americas. Approximately 550 square miles (1,425 square km) of the valley's surface are situated below sea level. A point in the Badwater Basin, measuring 282 feet (86 metres) below sea level, holds the title for the lowest point in North America. West of this point, less than 20 miles (30 km) away, is the 11,049-foot (3,368-metre) Telescope Peak, marking the highest point within the area. Death Valley has historically served as an obstacle for pioneer settlers, from which its name is derived. It later became a hub for borax extraction and continues to draw tourists and scientists due to its extreme environment.

Following its christening in 1849 by a group of emigrants who endured considerable hardship during their crossing, Death Valley remained largely unknown to the outside world, save for Native Americans, primarily the Shoshone, and prospectors in the vicinity of the surrounding mountains. The valley's first documented scientific recognition appears to have been a concise mention in 1868 by a California state geologist. It was not until the 1870s, with the discovery of gold and silver in the mountains surrounding the valley, and the 1880s, with the identification of borax deposits within the valley itself, that the area began to attract more attention. The production of borax, notably at the Harmony Borax Works from 1883 to 1888, led to the development of the renowned 20-mule team wagons, which transported the product to Mojave, California. Numerous ghost towns have emerged around the valley, with some still housing remnants of their once-thriving communities. These towns flourished from the late 19th to early 20th century, following the discovery of gold, copper, and silver deposits in the area. However, they were abandoned once the mines were depleted, with each town existing for a brief period. For instance, Rhyolite, established in 1904 as a gold-mining hub for 10,000 people boasting amenities such as a stock exchange, electric plant, and opera house, was deserted by 1916 following the closure of the main mine.

The geological history of Death Valley is characterized by a complex interplay of various fault activities, including vertical block faulting, crustal subsidence, and even volcanic activity. At its core, Death Valley is a graben, or rift valley, sculpted by the subsidence of a vast expanse of rock situated between parallel mountain ranges that have been uplifted and tilted to the east and west. The valley's formation commenced approximately 30 million years ago with the initiation of block faulting, a type of faulting where the movement is predominantly vertical. As the crustal blocks sank, they delineated the extensive trough that forms the valley's floor, while adjacent blocks were uplifted, gradually giving rise to the mountain ranges that surround it. As the valley subsided, it was gradually filled with sediment eroded from the surrounding hills. In the central region of the valley, the bedrock floor is now concealed beneath as much as 9,000 feet (2,745 meters) of sediment. The valley floor continues to undergo tilting and subsidence.

The floor of Death Valley is distinguished by its extreme temperatures and aridity. It holds the record for the highest air temperature ever recorded on Earth and in North America, with a temperature of 134°F (57°C) recorded in 1913. Summer temperatures frequently surpass 120°F (49°C). The hottest summer on record in the valley occurred in 1996, during which temperatures reached 120°F on 40 consecutive days. Ground temperatures have been reported to exceed 201°F (94°C). These high temperatures, coupled with low humidity, contribute to a remarkably high rate of evaporation.

During winter, the minimum temperatures rarely drop below freezing, with the record low temperature being 15°F (−9°C). The majority of rainfall is obstructed by the mountains to the west, resulting in the valley's extreme aridity. Over a 50-year period in the 20th century, Furnace Creek, a location within the valley, recorded an average annual rainfall of only 1.66 inches (42.2 mm), with the maximum annual rainfall reaching 4.5 inches (114.3 mm), and two years went by without any measurable rainfall.

The majority of the valley's surface water is found in the saline ponds and marshes surrounding the salt pan. The Amargosa River contributes a small amount of water to the southern end of the valley from desert regions to the east, with the majority of its flow occurring underground. Salt Creek, which drains the northern arm of the valley, experiences only brief periods of perennial surface flow.

In the past, Death Valley has experienced periods of increased water flow. During the Wisconsin Glacial Stage of the Pleistocene Epoch, approximately 50,000 years ago, a large body of water (Lake Manly) filled the valley to a depth of up to 600 feet (180 meters). More recently, around 2,000 to 5,000 years ago, a shallow lake occupied the valley's floor, its evaporation contributing to the formation of the present salt pan.

Despite its arid conditions, Death Valley is not devoid of life. While plant life at the microscopic level is absent from the salt pan, salt-tolerant species such as pickleweed, salt grass, and rushes are found around springs and marshes at the edges. Introduced tamarisks provide shade near some springs and in inhabited areas at Furnace Creek, although their presence has led to the ongoing eradication efforts due to their ability to outcompete native vegetation. Mesquite thrives in areas where water is less saline. Creosote bush is the dominant species on the gravel fan surfaces around much of the valley, transitioning to desert holly at the valley's lowest elevations. Cactus is relatively rare in the valley's lowest regions but is abundant on the fans located further north. Higher elevations support the growth of juniper and piñon pine trees. Spring rains support a diverse array of desert wildflowers.

While it may appear that the sole avian inhabitants of the valley are the boisterous and numerous ravens, the inaugural biological survey conducted in the valley during the 1890s documented a staggering 78 species of birds. Presently, over three times this number have been identified as either permanent residents or visitors to the area, with the roadrunner standing out as a particularly notable inhabitant. The valley is also home to a variety of reptiles, including snakes (including the endangered sidewinder rattlesnake), as well as scorpions. Additionally, native fish species have been observed in Death Valley. Several species of pupfish, belonging to the genus Cyprinodon, are found in Salt Creek and other permanent water bodies; the critically endangered Devils Hole pupfish (Cyprinodon diabolis) is confined to a solitary desert pool.

The Death Valley National Park

The Death Valley National Park spans an impressive 5,270 square miles (13,650 square kilometers) across the valley, with the majority of its area located in California. The park's northeastern boundary is marked by the Nevada state line, with a minor extension into Nevada's Bullfrog Hills. To the west, the Inyo National Forest and the Inyo Mountains delineate its western edge, while the Panamint Valley and the Slate Range form its southwestern boundary. To the south, the U.S. Army's Fort Irwin and the National Training Center are adjacent, and the Amargosa River and the Greenwater Range complete the southeastern border. Established in 1933 as a national monument and later in 1994 as a national park, the current boundaries of the park significantly surpass those of its original designation. The park has undergone several expansions, including in 1937 and 1952, which added significant areas, notably Devils Hole, located within Nevada’s Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. The California Desert Protection Act of 1994 further expanded the park by adding over 2,000 square miles (5,100 square kilometers) and reclassified it as the largest national park in the contiguous United States.