Death Valley National Park Death Valley is one of the hottest places on earth. Death Valley is located in California and partly in Nevada. Over 1 million people visit Death Valley National Park every year. Death Valley National Park is the largest national park unit in the conterminous 48 states. Death Valley's Badwater Basin is the point of the lowest elevation in North America, at 279 feet below sea level. Cacti in Death Valley commonly grow in an elevation of over 400 feet above sea level. It was established in October 31st of 1994.This park has some of the darkest skies in the U.S. The temperatures can reach up to 120℉. The highest that has been recorded has been 134℉. The name of “Death Valley” comes from when a group of 49ers on their …show more content…
The explanation is that the strong storms at night transform the sand and the strong winds move the rocks. The most common wildlife in Death Valley are coyotes, ravens, roadrunners, ground squirrels and lizards. If you’re lucky, you may spot bighorn sheep in the mountains. The average yearly rainfall in Death Valley is 2.36 inches. Death Valley is a true beauty in every season, even though it may go to the extremes. It has amazing beauty, history, phenomena, wildlife, and nature.
There are many different things that are historical about Death Valley National Park.It is the hottest National Park, there is sign of a volcano,it is located 76 miles from Mount Whitney, and it has been home to Native American tribes and today. The Timbisha tribe now lives there. Death Valley is one of the most interesting because it has the highest recorded temperature in the state. On July 10th, 1914 in Furnace Valley the temperature was at a 134℉. The high temperatures in Death Valley are not uncommon during the summer. During the summer the temperatures always exceed 100℉. But during the
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Death Valley is just a lot of desert, Death Valley is home to bighorn sheep, reptiles, snakes, creatures of land and water in addition to more than 300 types of winged creatures, also the blast of fauna that erupt after a precipitation, it also has the most extreme
The United States government initially celebrated the Battle at Wounded Knee as the final conflict between Native Americans and the United States military - after which the western frontier was considered safe for the incoming settlers. Over 20 medals were awarded to the soldiers for their valor on the battlefield. However, the understanding has changed regarding what actually took place at Wounded Knee on December 29, 1890. The Hollywood version of the Battle of Wounded Knee accurately presents the case that the Battle at Wounded Knee was actually a massacre of the Sioux - the culminating act of betrayal and aggression carried out by the United States military,
Background Information of Death Valley Established as a National Park in 1933 under President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Death Valley is the largest national park in the continental United States even though its total length is no more than approximately 100 miles in length. The valley is located in the Mojave Desert in eastern California and is surrounded by the Amargosa Range on the east, the Panamint Range on the west, and the Sylvania Mountains and Owlshead Mountains on the northern and southern boundaries. The topography of this region is varied and complex; and has a lengthy geologic history that explains why it is riddled with a variety of sand dunes, craters, and flood-carved canyons to name a few. The total area of the valley is about 3,000 square miles with the lowest elevation being located at the Badwater Basin at 282 feet below sea level. Interestingly enough; however, the highest elevation of the region is 14,494 feet above sea level.
The world has been shaped by many events. Like a sculpture each piece was a result of an event that made it that way. The Snake River Canyon is no different, most of upper Utah and part southern Idaho show the scars of an event that rocked the landscape into what it is today. When researching and digging in the region you can find remnants of an old marine environment, from sediment deposits to river terraces hundreds of feet high. It’s confusing to think of the area as a giant lake with sandy beaches and powerful waves, but the overflow of this huge lake is what created most of the landscape you can see today. The great Bonneville flood was the world second largest flood, emptying over 32,000 square miles of lake volume. (Utah Geological Society) The flood that the this overfill caused carved through many areas and created the beautiful valley that can be seen there. However, this didn’t just happen over night. The pre-flood history, flood event, specific flood deposits all played an important role in shaping this large Geological marvel. Understanding what happened back then can give us a good glimpse into better understanding the region today, which can lead to better predicting and preserving for the future.
Huber, N. King. "The Geologic Story of The Yosemite Valleys." United States Geological Survey. N.p., 13 Jan. 2004. Web. 23 Apr. 2014. .
The urbanization of the Tahoe Basin remained a relatively slow process until the 1950s, when the opening of Highway 50 and the completion of Interstate 80 brought the San Francisco Bay area within a four-hour drive. Year-round access to the lake encouraged expansion, as modest clubs designed for seasonal business were transformed into towering casinos packed with visitors throughout the year. The new access in winter also attracted thousands to the basin's ski slopes, and in addition to this increase due to accessability, the 1960 Olympics were held in the Lake Tahoe Basin, at the Squaw Valley Ski Resort. This event crea...
...e covered with Bajadas which are long sedimentary slopes sprinkled with cacti and creosote bushes. Another feature is the desert pavement, this is an extremely dry and baron type of landscape that is composed of gravel and small rocks overlaid with thin clay and other particles that mimic pavement. One area of the Mojave Desert located in Death Valley California, the elevation drops from 3,400 meters above sea level to 88 meters below sea level and looks like an ocean during flood season. The Mojave Desert is quite fascinating, as it does not fit the classic image of a desert as it only has limited sand dunes and is characterized by parched mountains that rise abruptly from alternating plains. The Mojave is quite different from the temperate climate found where I live in Napa California and though I find it fascinating to look at, I would not want to live there.
Growing up in the Rio Grande Valley you become aware of all the opportunities that the world has to offer in contrast to the ones occurring here. You hear about all that is going on in such places as New York and California, but it is a novelty to hear anything or anyone being discussed from the Rio Grande Valley, unless it relates to Mexico. Ever since I was a child I had big ambitions, wishing for nothing more than to become successful in this world. As I matured I also developed a more direct goal. A goal that will not only further enhance the Valley but also enhance the people contained within it. My goal is to one day return and influence the teens of future generations. Helping them become aware of the infinite possibilities that are
The granite in the Sierra Nevada Range and the glacier-carved landscape of Yosemite National Park allows the geologic history of the area to be broken into two distinct parts. First, the deposition and deformation of metamorphic rocks and emplacement of granitic rocks during the Paleozoic and Mesozoic, and secondly, the uplift, erosion, and glaciation during the Cenozoic that produced the modern landscape (United States of America). Significant chapters in this geologic history include the assembly of California, the intrusion of the Sierra Nevada Batholith, building of the Sierra Nevada, and erosion by glaciers (United States of America). The glaciation has led to iconic landmarks that are known around the world, such as Yosemite Falls, Yosemite Valley, and Half Dome (United States).
The geology, its history, and the presence of past civilizations contribute to much of the significance of Mesa Verde National Park. The interconnectedness of these aspects should also be noted. If not for the weathering processes and changes in sea level this formation would not exist. Without it, the ancient people would not have been able to reside within Mesa Verde. This National Park now serves as a tool to help conserve the remains of these past civilizations as well as to help educate today’s society on the significance behind this astonishing geologic
Canyonlands National Park, immense amounts of wilderness and rock, is located at the heart of the Colorado Plateau (Canyonlands National Park-Geology). Millions of years have formed specific features to the rock and surrounding wilderness that make it so special. Throughout the park, you will find that the sedimentary rock has formed many features such as hundreds of colorful canyons, mesas, buttes, fins, arches, and spires. The Green and Colorado rivers have played a major role in the formation of many of these features. These rivers cut through the park forming two massive canyons. This further splits the park into three distinct zones. “Island in the Sky” sits to the north while “The Maze” sits off to the west and “The Needles” to the east (Canyonlands National Park Information Guide). “Island in the Sky” serves as Canyonlands’ observation tower; it allows tourists to see overwhelming vistas of the rest of the land. “The Maze,” as hinted at by the name has been described as a “30 square mile puzzle in sandstone” (NPS: Nature & Science» Geology Resources Division). This section of the park often ranks as one of the most remote and inaccessible areas of the United States. Lastly, “The Needles” is known for its diversity in rock features. Throughout this land, features such as sculptured rock spires, arches, canyons, grabens, and potholes can be seen. The varying names hint at the diversity of the land as a whole. As said by The National Park Service’s Geology Resources Division, “Traces of the Anasazi can be found in almost every canyon in the Needles. Many of their stone and mud dwellings and storehouses are remarkably well-preserved. Tower Ruins, built high on a cliff ledge in a side canyon of Horse Canyon, is an outstanding ex...
Volcanoes. The naturally forming landforms that can look remarkably beautiful. Gentle slopes, or high rising heights with snow caps and greenery that seems to attract many tourists and sightseers around the world. These magnificent landforms can also cause major destruction and can produce forces that can explode, burn, and create a great deal of damage. Two of these extravagant wonders of the world is the Mount Saint Helens composite volcano in Washington, US, and the Mauna Loa shield volcano in Hawaii, US. These landforms have a eruption history of many colors. One has a great power in eruption, but another has a eruption that is quiet and gentle. In comparing these two volcanoes there are many likes, and dislikes, to consider. So the following
This trip starts from Denver, Colorado to Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. “Natural landform” is the main theme for this trip. I will explore the mystery of geothermal features in Yellowstone National Park.
...mes. The Rim Fire, near iconic Yosemite National Park, left Sierra Nevadan skies hazy with smoke for weeks and burnt an area one-third the size of Rhode Island.
During my trip to the Arboretum I thought a lot about the importance of the desert. I thought about how complex and beautiful it is. It is a landscape that I do not think many people view as beautiful. I know that when I first came to visit Phoenix I thought the desert was quite ugly. It wasn’t until I made an effort to find its exquisiteness that I did. Participating in activities like visiting the arboretum and taking day trips to Sedona and Tuscon have helped me to see the magnificence of a cactus existing in the sand with no water for weeks at a time. This one thing amazes me so much. The blooming flowers on a cactus are breathtaking to me. I think the contrast of cactus flowers and the vastness of the sand in the desert is what makes it so striking.