Death Valley is a desert located in a deep trough at the border between California and Nevada.

 

The low elevation of 86 meters below sea level, combined with the high surrounding mountains create a perfect condition for extreme high temperatures.

The hamlet Furnace Creek is the proud owner of the worlds highest temperature ever measured. In July 1913 the mercury here rose to 56.7 Celcius.

 

Since 1994 the valley is a National Park, actually the largests in the lower 48 states.

 

Native American have inhabited the valley for 9.000 years with the Timbisha tribe still living here.

First Europeans appeared in 1849 during theCalifornia Gold Rush. They found it a harsh place and so named it Death Valley.

 

Late in the 19th century borax was found which generated a mining and soap making industrial boom. Famous were the 20-mule teams that hauled the product 260 km to the nearest railway station.

 

We visited Death Valley in  February 1997.