The geographical name of this mysterious place is known, perhaps, even to the most inattentive schoolboy. Why? Think about it… Death Valley, USA… There is something sinister, mysterious and scary in this combination of letters.
When you say it, pictures from mystical detective stories and scenes from famous, chilling horror films immediately come to life before your eyes. What is this place really hiding?
Death Valley, USA. General description of the area
In general, Death Valley in the USA is a huge desert located in the southeastern part of the country, just on the border of two states, Nevada and California. And she got her name thanks to an unusual location.
The fact is that, according to scientists, this territory can be considered the absolute champion of the continent in three nominations at once. It is the driest, hottest, and lowest place in all of North America. Creepy, right?
The name of this national park, as it were, warns tourists in advance about what they can expect on a difficult journey. A harsh and very hot desert, the daytime temperatures of which are sometimes justbecome deadly to all living things.
Many people compare Death Valley to a real hell on earth. Indeed, almost immediately one gets the impression that this ascetic, lifeless and frightening place has descended from the pages of the Old Testament.
However, not even hundreds, but thousands of travelers flock here every year. Fans of extreme sports are attracted, as a rule, by the opportunity to test themselves and their will in difficult cycling and hiking routes. Romantics, on the other hand, strive to take stunning pictures against the backdrop of cracked and abundantly covered with s alt crust of the earth, sand dunes and dizzying canyons, which contrast markedly with the snow-capped mountains rising high into the sky.
Death Valley USA. Natural monuments and local attractions
This national park is considered to be one of the largest legally protected areas of land. The area of over 5,000 square miles includes both valleys and mountainous areas in the north.
Walking here, you can be surprised to discover both sand dunes and a multi-colored mosaic of almost marble canyons. And in some places, as if by chance, blocks of stones grow out of the ground, which are nothing more than craters of long-extinct volcanoes.
But not everything is so lifeless. Rare palm oases are home to numerous representatives of fauna and flora, which, it should be noted, are endemic, i.e. not found anywhere else on the globe.
Death Valley (California)…It is hard to imagine that the stone formations of this place appeared more than 500 million years ago, and now we have the opportunity not only to see them with our own eyes, but even to touch or take a picture against their background. Scientists believe that limestone and sandstone, abundantly covering the valley, once served as the base of the seabed, and then, as a result of the movement of the earth's plates, were thrown out.
Probably, it's hard to even think that some locals, and even more people, can live in this God-forgotten place. But it's true! Several ancient tribes moved here many centuries ago and have been guardians of this harsh region ever since. Unfortunately, the number of inhabitants is decreasing every year, and now only a few Timbisha families live near Furnis Creek. Just a few years ago, another village near Scotty's castle was considered inhabited, but now Maahunu is completely deserted.
Death Valley USA. Cursed place?
This place has long had a dark reputation among travelers. For unknown reasons, people have disappeared here several times. A little later, the cars were intact and in good condition, and there was no trace of the travelers.
Many tried to attribute everything to the military, blaming the fact that they, they say, are testing new bacteriological weapons in these parts. For a long time, the military denied everything, considering such stories to be rumors and stories from representatives of travel agencies.
And most recently withthe soldiers themselves had to face the mystery of Death Valley. The Mexican military was training in a location that can be traced on a map to within a few meters. However, on the fourth day, communication with the group was suddenly interrupted. It was decided to send a whole detachment of paratroopers to help. A few hours later, a service jeep was found. The car was parked near a huge stone boulder. The engine is on, the radio is working. But not a single person from the group performing the task could be found.
