This National Park Has Nearly 1,000 Miles of Roads and Surreal Landscapes-and It's the Hottest Place on Earth

"There are few national parks as extreme as Death Valley National Park, which straddles the border of California and Nevada. The saltwater flats of Badwater Basin sit well below sea level and face steady drought, while snowcapped Telescope Peak towers at 11,049 feet above sea level. Death Valley is both the driest place in North America and the hottest place on Earth, with summer temperatures often surpassing 120 degrees Fahrenheit."

"And yet, in this seemingly uninhabitable landscape, there is life. Over 1,000 species of plants and almost 400 animal species thrive within the park, including several not found anywhere else in the world. The vast, extreme landscape, which is renowned for its massive sprawl and variance in elevation, also has a long human history. "For 1,000 years, the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe has called the valley home."

Death Valley National Park straddles California and Nevada and contains extremes from the saltwater flats of Badwater Basin below sea level to snowcapped Telescope Peak at 11,049 feet. The park records some of Earth’s highest summer temperatures, often surpassing 120°F, and ranks as North America’s driest region. Despite harsh conditions, over 1,000 plant species and almost 400 animal species thrive, including endemic species. The Timbisha Shoshone Tribe has inhabited the valley for about 1,000 years and traditionally harvested local resources. The name Death Valley arose in 1849 after stranded '49ers. More than one million visitors explore the park annually.

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