Death Valley National Park is one of the most unique and iconic sites in the American Southwest. Here are a few things you might not know about the largest and most ominously-named national park outside of Alaska:
You’ve Seen It Before
If you’re a cinephile, there’s a good chance you’ve seen Death Valley in at least one film before. Its most iconic screen appearances came in the Star Wars saga, where Death Valley doubled as the desert world of Tatooine during the filming of both the original film and 1983’s Return of the Jedi. More recently, Death Valley’s Zabriskie Point was featured prominently in the opening episodes of The Mandalorian as the home planet of Nick Nolte’s diminutive alien Kuiil and graced the album cover for U2’s iconic The Joshua Tree.
Death Valley is Alive
Despite the name, Death Valley is far from dead. Every spring, snowmelt from the mountains on either side of the valley causes the ground to be carpeted by colorful wildflowers, and the area’s tough native plants provide food for animals like kangaroo rats and rabbits. Even human beings have been able to find a living in Death Valley – the native Timbisha people have lived in the valley for over 1,000 years and were reportedly astonished by the name given to their home by American pioneers. To them, the place they called Tümpisattsi (Place of Red Ochre) provided plenty of opportunities for life.
It’s the Hottest Place on Earth
While the Timbisha might not have been bothered by the local climate, most people certainly are. With summer temperatures frequently topping 120 degrees Fahrenheit, Death Valley is often cited as the hottest place in the world. In fact, of the five highest temperatures recorded on Earth, the top four places are held by measurements taken in Death Valley, capping at a blistering 134 degrees in July of 1913.
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