Death Valley National Park

Death Valley National Park got its name in winter of 1849 after a group of pioneers disappeared there, causing many people to believe they died there. It was established as a national park on October 31, 1994. Death Valley is one of the largest parks in the United States. It takes up about 5,270 mi² of land. The size is why it’s considered to be a part of California and Nevada. No matter what season it is, it is a very dry place. It hardly rains there, the average yearly rainfall recorded is 1.92 inches.

The park has a lot of wildlife such as Antelope Squirrels and Kangaroo Rats, but they are the smaller ones, which are hunted by the bigger animals they have. Coyotes, Kit Foxes and Bobcats are the bigger ones but the largest animal at the park is the Big Horned Sheep. Most of these animals can be seen on the many hiking trails at the park. On the hiking trails, they have signs up with information on the park, the animals and the plants. Many people like to stop and read the signs to learn about everything.

According to the official website, Death Valley has designated picnic tables and bathrooms to rest at before and or after hiking on the trails. People like to go up to the park to spend time with family, relax and enjoy the fresh air. As well as picnic tables and trails, there are also spots that are used for people that want to camp. Like any park, they have rules for when camping. Some of the rules include, no hunting the animals, no smoking, no alcohol and no littering. There are fines if someone gets caught breaking the rules.

More than a million people visit Death Valley each year. It is a great place for anyone who enjoys the outdoors. Everyone goes for different reasons, weather it be to forget everyday problems or to just have fun. It is one of the top most visited national parks in the United States.