Where is Death Valley and what does it known for?
Death Valley, a California desert near the Nevada state line, is the hottest and driest area in North America. Although Death Valley hardly ever receives rain, during our 2016 visit it had just received a few days of rain which made the scenery extra special.
Death Valley became famous for a party of pioneers who tried to find a shortcut from Salt Lake City to California in 1849. Instead, they were attacked by Paiute Indians at the bottom of this barren but colorful desert. In the wake of the attack, the hearty pioneers killed their oxen, burned their wagons to cure the meat, then headed west on foot. Thirteen died during this arduous journey, though the rest succeeded in reaching California.
Death Valley is also known for mining, which started shortly after gold was discovered in California, and later became a significant center of borax production. In 1933 Death Valley was proclaimed a national monument — nearly 1.9 million acres (7,690 square kilometer) in California and Nevada. In 1994, it became a national park.
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