Death Valley

I

Introduction

Death Valley, arid desert region in southeastern California. Much of Death Valley is below sea level, and near Badwater, at 86 m (282 ft) below sea level, is the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere. Death Valley National Park (established as a national monument, 1933; redesignated a national park, 1994) has an area of 13,648 sq km (5,269 sq mi) and incorporates the valley and surrounding mountains.

II

Geography

The valley is from 6 to 26 km (4 to 16 mi) wide and about 225 km (about 140 mi) long and is almost entirely enclosed by mountain ranges, volcanic in origin, bare and brilliantly colored. The Panamint Range on the west, which rises to a maximum altitude of 3,368 m (11,049 ft) in Telescope Peak, shuts out the moist Pacific winds. On the east are the peaks of the Amargosa Range.

The summer temperatures in Death Valley, one of the hottest regions known, exceed 52°C (125°F) and rarely fall below 21°C (70°F). The National Weather Service recorded 57 °C (134°F) in 1913, the highest temperature ever recorded in the United States. Average rainfall in a normal year is 50 mm (2 in). Sandstorms and dust whirlwinds of several hours' duration are common.

Several watercourses enter the valley, among them the Amargosa River from the south and Furnace Creek from the east, but it is only after heavy rains, which are rare, that they contain water. The lowest parts of the valley floor are salt flats, devoid of vegetation; higher portions contain a mixture of sand and salt grains, occasionally forming dunes. The western side of the valley floor is bordered by stunted mesquite, and in a marsh in the northern section a growth of tall, coarse grass is found. The east and west slopes have a sparse vegetation of cacti and desert shrubs and grasses. Animal life is confined to a few species of desert reptiles, such as horned toads and lizards and such mammals as rabbits, rats, and the desert bighorn sheep.

---

---

III

Geology

Death Valley is a graben or rift valley—a depressed block of Earth’s crust lying between parallel bordering uplifted and tilted fault-block mountains. The valley itself has been sinking for tens of millions of years, during which it has been partially filled by sediment from the surrounding mountains. During the more humid climatic phases of the last million years, drainage from nearby and more distant ranges increased considerably and Death Valley, like many other depressions of the Great Basin, was partly filled by several successive lakes. The most recent lake was at least 140 km (90 mi) long and about 200 m (600 ft) deep. Strand lines and beaches on the mountainsides mark the levels of these ancient lakes. The subsequent evaporation of lake waters left behind Death Valley’s salt flats.

IV

History

Death Valley gained its name and reputation during the Gold Rush of 1849. A group of gold seekers and settlers on their way to California mistook the valley for a shortcut to their destination. They were stranded there, and a party was sent out to find help. One man turned back alone and was later found dead in the desert; all suffered from thirst and hunger.

Soon afterward other prospectors deliberately entered the valley in search of gold. Although some precious metal was discovered, the real value of the area was found to be the surface borax deposits of its salt field. Wagon roads were built into the depression in the 1880s, and a number of mining towns and borax works were established. The borax mining industry lasted only a short time, however, for richer deposits were soon found in sediments covered by gravels in the nearby Mojave Desert.

In the 20th century construction of automobile roads made the area easily accessible to tourists. Visitors flock to Death Valley to view the spectacular scenery and ghost mining towns. Winter facilities for tourists are maintained at a number of sites.

	More from Encarta
	•  Important Notice: MSN Encarta to be discontinued. Learn more. •  Presidential Myths Quiz •  Coffee break: Recharge your brain