Death Valley

Location

• Eastern California, USA

Also Known as

• Land of extremes: It is the lowest, hottest, and driest place of the North America.

Surrounded by

• Mojave Desert in south , bordering the Great Basin Desert.

Area

• 5,262 square miles.

National Park

• Declared a national park on October 31, 1994.

Geological features

•  Lowest  point is -282 feet at Badwater.
• The highest point in Death Valley is 11,049 feet on Telescope Peak.
• Formed by a series of fault systems, including the well-known Death Valley Faults.
• Known for its expansive salt flats, such as those found in Badwater Basin.
• Colorful rock formations, canyons, alluvial fans, and volcanic features.
• Playas are dry lakebeds that form in the valley, such as Racetrack Playa.
• Ubehebe Crater is a large volcanic crater located in the northern part of Death Valley.
• Zabriskie Point, is a badland topography.
• Home  to Golden Canyon and Mosaic Canyon.

Climate

• Experiences an extremely hot and arid climate, with minimal rainfall and high temperatures during the summer months.

Wildlife

• Endemic Animal: Devil’s Hole Pupfish, Cottonball Marsh Pupfish, Saratoga Spring, Pupfish, Salt Creek Pupfish.  
• Plants: Shining Milkvetch, Napkin Ring Buckwheat , Panamint Mountains Bedstraw.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.  How many of the following pairs are correctly matched?

1.       Mojave desert – North America

2.       Kalahari desert – South Africa

3.       Tanami – Argentina

4.       Simpson –Australia

Choose the correct answer using the codes given below

A.      Only one

B.      Only two

C.      Only three

D.      None

Answer  C