Hottest Place on Earth

Death Valley National Park is located in the Mojave Desert in eastern California, spanning over 3,000 square miles (7,800 square kilometers). It is the largest national park in the contiguous United States and attracts visitors from all over the world who come to witness the park's unique geological formations, breathtaking vistas, and diverse flora and fauna. Despite its name and reputation as a harsh and unforgiving environment, Death Valley is home to a surprising array of plants and animals that have adapted to the extreme conditions of the desert landscape.

Four major mountain ranges lie between Death Valley and the ocean, each one adding to an increasingly drier rain shadow effect, and in 1929, 1953, and 1989, no rain was recorded for the whole year. The period from 1931 to 1934 was the driest stretch on record, with only 0.64 inches (16 mm) of rain over a 40-month period. The average annual precipitation in Death Valley is 2.36 inches (60 mm), while the Greenland Ranch station averaged 1.58 in (40 mm). The wettest month on record is January 1995, when 2.59 inches (66 mm) fell on Death Valley. The wettest period on record was mid-2004 to mid-2005, in which nearly 6 inches (150 mm) of rain fell in total, leading to ephemeral lakes in the valley and the region and tremendous wildflower blooms. Snow with accumulation has only been recorded in January 1922, while scattered flakes have been recorded on other occasions.

Geography and Geology:

Death Valley National Park is situated in a deep valley that runs from north to south between two mountain ranges: the Panamint Range to the west and the Amargosa Range to the east. The valley is approximately 130 miles (210 kilometers) long and up to 15 miles (24 kilometers) wide, and reaches a maximum depth of 11,049 feet (3,368 meters) below sea level at Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America.

The valley was formed by the convergence of several faults in the Earth's crust, which caused the land to sink and created a basin that filled with sediment and water. The surrounding mountains act as barriers, trapping hot, dry air in the valley and preventing the inflow of moist ocean air. This results in an extremely arid climate with very little precipitation and a high evaporation rate.

The park's geology is characterized by a wide variety of rock formations, including sedimentary, volcanic, and metamorphic rocks. Some of the park's most notable geological features include:

Badwater Basin: This salt flat is the lowest point in North America at 282 feet (86 meters) below sea level. The basin was formed by the accumulation of evaporated water that left behind a layer of salt and other minerals.

Zabriskie Point: This scenic overlook provides stunning views of the park's colorful badlands and eroded sedimentary rock formations.

Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes: These towering sand dunes can reach heights of up to 100 feet (30 meters) and cover an area of over 14 square miles (36 square kilometers).

Ubehebe Crater: This large volcanic crater was formed by a series of explosive eruptions that occurred over 2,000 years ago. The crater is approximately half a mile (0.8 kilometers) wide and 500 feet (150 meters) deep.

Titus Canyon: This narrow canyon features colorful rock formations and towering walls that rise up to 1,200 feet (365 meters) in some places.

Climate:

Death Valley National Park is known for its extreme temperatures, which can reach as high as 134°F (56.7°C) in the summer and as low as 15°F (-9.4°C) in the winter. The park's arid climate means that precipitation is rare, with an average annual rainfall of less than 2 inches (5 centimeters). Most of the park's precipitation comes in the form of winter storms, which can cause flash floods and make some roads and trails impassable.

The park's extreme temperatures and lack of water make it a challenging environment for plants and animals. However, many species have adapted to the harsh conditions and are able to thrive in the desert landscape. Some of the most common plant species in the park include creosote bush, Joshua tree, and various types of cacti. Animal species that call the park home include bighorn sheep, coyotes, kit foxes, and several species of snakes and lizards.

The valley is extremely dry, because it lies in the rain shadow of four major mountain ranges (including the Sierra Nevada and Panamint Range). Moisture moving inland from the Pacific Ocean must pass eastward over the mountains to reach Death Valley; as air masses are forced upward by each range, they cool and moisture condenses, to fall as rain or snow on the western slopes. When the air masses reach Death Valley, most of the moisture in the air has already been lost and thus there is little left to fall as precipitation.

The extreme heat of Death Valley is attributable to a confluence of geographic and topographic factors. Scientists have identified a number of key contributors:

• Solar heating: The valley's surface (consisting of soil, rocks, sand, etc.) undergoes intense solar heating because the air is clear and dry, and the land is dark and sparsely vegetated. This is especially noticeable in mid-summer, when the sun is nearly directly overhead.

• Trapping of warm air: Warm air naturally rises and cools;[15] in Death Valley this air is subject to continual reheating as it is trapped by high, steep valley walls and recycled back to the valley floor.[16] Warm air also is trapped by the valley's north–south orientation, which runs perpendicular to prevailing west-to-east winds.

• Migration of warm air from other areas (advection): Warm desert regions adjacent to Death Valley, especially to the south and east, often heat air before it arrives in Death Valley.

• Warm mountain winds: As winds are forced up and over mountains (e.g. the numerous ranges west of Death Valley), the winds can be warmed in several ways. The resulting dry, warm winds are known as foehn winds. Their warmth can in part be caused by the release of latent heat, which occurs when water vapor condenses into clouds.

Severe heat and dryness contribute to perpetual drought-like conditions in Death Valley and prevent much cloud formation from passing through the confines of the valley, where precipitation is often in the form of a virga.

The depth and shape of Death Valley strongly influence its climate. The valley is a long, narrow basin that descends below sea level and is walled by high, steep mountain ranges. The clear, dry air and sparse plant cover allow sunlight to heat the desert surface. Summer nights provide little relief: overnight lows may dip just into the 82 to 98 °F (28 to 37 °C) range. Moving masses of super-heated air blow through the valley, creating extremely high ambient temperatures.

Human History

Humans have been living in the Death Valley area for thousands of years, with evidence of Native American settlements dating back.