Death Valley National Park

Death Valley National Park sprawls across 3.3 million acres of extreme desert landscape in California and Nevada, earning recognition as the hottest, driest, and lowest place in North America. The park recorded Earth's highest reliably measured air temperature of 134°F and encompasses Badwater Basin at 282 feet below sea level. Despite these extremes, the park reveals a land of subtle beauty with multicolored rock layers, water-sculpted canyons, and spring wildflower blooms that transform the valley floor. Remarkably, over 1,000 plant species, 400 animal species, and numerous endemic species thrive in this seemingly inhospitable environment. Desert bighorn sheep navigate steep mountain slopes while endemic pupfish survive in isolated springs with water temperatures exceeding 90°F. The park's elevation range from below sea level to 11,049 feet creates diverse habitats from salt flats to pine forests, supporting unexpected biodiversity. Death Valley implements specialized conservation strategies for extreme environments including water resource protection and climate monitoring. Managing 1.7 million annual visitors, the park maintains sustainable infrastructure while preserving wilderness character across 91% of its area. Research focuses on endemic species adaptation, geological processes, and climate extremes while restoration efforts target damaged desert habitats and historic mining sites.

Water Features

Salt Creek, Badwater Basin, Desert springs

Ecosystem

This destination features a desert ecosystem.