DEATH VALLEY CALIFORNIA International HOT SPOT

We stayed 5 days in Death Valley.  It was grand and beautiful.  One surprise was that 80-90% of tourists there were from foreign countries. We heard Spanish, French, Japanese, German, Chinese, Italian and more.  A lot of tour buses were coming out from Las Vegas.

One million people visit Death Valley every year.  This is Artists Palette.  A three mile side trip of multi colored hills.

The Devil owns property here.  This is the Devil's Cornfield. There is Dante's view and the Devil's golf course too.

The beautiful Panamint Valley, west of Death Valley.

Mesquite Sand Dunes near Stovepipe Wells.

Dante's View.  Elevation 5,475 feet above sea level. Looking into the salt flats in Bad Water Basin, -282 feet below sea level.

The Devil's Golf course.

Tons of Borax was mined in Death Valley.  Who remembers washing their hands in Boraxo? I do.

Our rig at Stovepipe Wells. Very happy to have electricity. The air conditioner worked overtime.   The hottest day we had was 104 degrees.  Humidity was practically non existent.

D.V. R.R. locomotive on display at the Borax Museum, Panamint Springs.

If you can spot the  tiny white slash two thirds up the mountainside and above the white/gray rv?  That is sea level.

Many old relics of the west are kept out back of the free Borax Museum.

Two guys beating the heat while walking the Bad Water salt flats.  The water there isn't bad it is just very salty.

Being  below sea level, plus the high mountains surrounding the valley, equals extreme heat.  Death Valley is officially the hottest place on Earth.  The record high temperature is 134 degrees.

6 people had heart attacks so far this year while visiting D.V. This is not a place for foolish types.   Landmarks   look  much closer than they actually are.  They stress always carrying water and finishing a hike before 10 am. 

Bryan at the Furnace Creek visitors center.  Still pretty hot for early October and it wasn't lunch time yet.  190 feet below sea level.

Dante's View looking north.  It was 30 degrees cooler up here.

Cannot imagine working hard in a mine or even crossing the valley on foot.  Water is king here.   We were bummed when moon was too bright to see the stars.  Lesson learned - visit when there is no moon.   

Between Death Valley and Las Vegas.  The Area 51 Alien Center.

Thanks for viewing the blog.  The pictures don't really capture how awe inspiring and beautiful it is.  We met a young couple from Rome that were here on their honeymoon.  It made me feel good that so many fly thousands of miles to see our country.   It was a nice thing to be able to take the time to really explore the area.  After 4 months on the road,  I have to agree with what they say.....The West is the Best!  Love, Mary & Bryan