The hottest and driest national park in the United States doesn’t seem like it would appeal to everyone but if you have time to visit Death Valley National Park (DEVA), located in the Mojave Desert, it will not disappoint. DEVA is vast, covering 3.4 million acres, and its unique ecosystems attract tourists each year.
Best Time to Visit
During 2020, DEVA had over 820,000 people visit. DEVA holds the record for the highest air temperature in the world, making the best time to visit this special park during the winter. Most tourists visit during the end of November through early March to avoid the extreme heat. If you are lucky and California has a large amount of rain, you may get to witness a superbloom. Superblooms occur in desert ecosystems after large periods of rain. The desert winds help to scatter blooms and the wildflowers can be found at higher elevations.
Geological Features
A unique aspect of DEVA is its geological features. The topography includes sand dunes, craters, flood-carved, canyons, and mountains. One of the most famous areas for visitors to go is Artists Palette. Visitors enjoy taking pictures of the brightly colored rocks here, the colors are from volcanic deposits that left behind iron oxides and chlorite that create the rainbow effect.
Salt Flats
Badwater Basin is the lowest point in North America and another popular destination in the park. It got its name from a freshwater lake that appeared after the ice age. The desert's hot and dry climate evaporated the water and subsequently concentrated the water's minerals, leaving only salt in the lake’s place. After thousands of years, enough salts have washed in to produce layer upon layer of salt crust. These salt flats cover nearly 200 square miles, among the largest protected salt flats in the world.
Writing Prompt: Travel Blog written by Abigail
Stone Lauer for "A Day in the Life of a Fellow"
Article Series. Abigail is a NPS Workforce Management
Fellow, in partnership with Northwest Youth Corps
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service