Author: Susan Edel

oOa·sis/ōˈāsis: a fertile spot in a desert, where water is found;
something that provides refuge, relief, or pleasant contrast

Death Valley, the name alone sounds foreboding. And yet, for thousands of years, this land has beckoned inhabitants from Indian tribes, to those seeking riches of silver and gold, to the discovery of borax and the successful community built by the Pacific Coast Borax Company…all the way to current day travel enthusiasts seeking to endure, at times, the most severe conditions in North America to experience this unique destination.

Death Valley is often called the land of extremes. It is the largest national park in the contiguous U.S. and is situated in a basin 282 feet below sea level and rises over 11,000 feet at Telescope Peak. As well as being the lowest point in North America, it is also the hottest and driest place on earth. The calendar year of 1913 recorded both the highest {134 F} and lowest {15 F} temperatures, along with the highest amount of rainfall in Death Valley’s history. These extreme conditions contribute to the striking contrast and extraordinary landscape with ever-changing sand dunes, multi-colored hills, skidding rocks, and jagged mountain peaks that make this area so intriguing.