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Travel Destination Guide - Death Valley
Death Valley (California, USA) 
Death Valley Information
Slideshow of Photos
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Death Valley is located about 200 miles north east of Los Angeles. It lies about 50 miles east of the Sierras. It is about 100 miles long and varies in width from 5 miles to over 15 miles. The area got its name from an incident that occurred during the "Gold Rush" to California in 1849. A small expedition of gold seekers attempting a short cut to California became lost in this valley. Before they could find a way out, several members of the party perished from the intense heat and lack of drinking water.
This extremely hot and forbidding land can also be strangely beautiful. A small area of open sand dunes gives the northern end of the valley a classical desert look. The eroded walls and side canyons take on multi-colored hues from exposed mineral deposits. At the southern extremity, which at 282 feet below sea level is the lowest point in the US, a broad shallow lake of mineral laden water from the surrounding mountains forms during the winter and evaporates in the summer to expose gleaming white salt flats.
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This part of California is composed of numerous arid mountain ranges interspersed with desert valleys. The Sierra Nevada Mountain Range shelters the area from most moisture off of the Pacific Ocean, and what little precipitation falls is usually limited to the upper slopes of the mountains. This vast desert area of eastern California and Nevada is known as the basin and range area.
The floor of the valley receives less than two inches of rain per year, and clear blue skies without a cloud are normal all seasons of the year. Since the valley is secluded between high arid mountain ridges, it is well sheltered from any cool breezes, so the sun heats the valley floor and rocky walls to very high temperatures. During the summer months, temperatures of 130 (50 C) are not uncommon. It seldom drops below 100 degrees even in the night.
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Population: 295.734.100
Languages: English 82%, Spanish 11% (2000)
Currency: US dollar
Currency code: USD
Local Times:
U.S.A. - District of Columbia - Washington DC
U.S.A. - Florida - Orlando
U.S.A. - California - San Francisco
U.S.A. - New York - New York
U.S.A. - Nevada - Las Vegas
Country Dialling Code: +1
Voltage: 120V 60Hz
Electrical plugs:
 
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The USA is home to several of the world's most exciting cities, some truly mind-blowing landscapes, a strong sense of regionalism, a trenchant mythology, more history than the country gives itself credit for and, arguably, some of the most approachable natives in the world.
America was 'discovered' by Columbus in 1492 and for 500 years people have travelled here seeking a better life in the 'land of opportunity'. The land was fought over by colonial powers for centuries and finally won its independence from Britain in 1783. Despite the near annihilation of the Native American population, one of the bloodiest civil wars the world had seen, and racism (Native Americans were not granted citizenship until 1924 and racial segregation was the norm until as late as the 1950s), the American people have succeeded in forging one of the worlds most united, democratic and tolerant nations, a fascinating melting-pot of cultures, and the undisputed military and economic heavyweight of the world.
The country is made up of 48 contiguous states of the continental USA, plus the huge state of Alaska, northwest of Canada, and the volcanic islands of Hawaii, 2,000 miles (3,219km) out into the Pacific. There are also the US territories, which include Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Midway Islands and US Virgin Islands. Tourism is focused mainly in the great cities such as New York and Washington, as well as sunshine states such as Florida, California and Hawaii. However the mind-blowing landscapes, found in the wealth of magnificent National Parks like Yosemite, Yellowstone and the Adirondacks, as well as spectacular sights like the Grand Canyon and the Rocky Mountains, are what make the USA so unique. With all this on their doorstep, it's easy to understand why most Americans have never bothered getting a passport. |
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Death Valley Travel Awards
Local Area Weather
Daggett, CA |
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Fair |
18°C
Feels like: 18°C |
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