Death Valley

I'd expected Death Valley to be big (correct) & all looking pretty similar (incorrect). The variety of landscapes & rock formations is endless. 

Though wind & blowing sand have some effect, most of this landscape is sculpted by water. That's pretty amazing when one considers that the average annual rainfall here is just 2", & some years the valley floor doesn't get any rain at all. I keep looking at the formations with that in mind. 

Landscapes...I expected it all to look like this first pic, but more of it looks like the second pic. And yes, those are sand dunes, & an oasis.

                                     

Mosaic Canyon hike...

   

 

Golden Canyon hike...

 

                                    

Artists' Palette area...

 

                                        
Ubehebe Volcano...


Badwater Basin, 282 feet below sea level...in the second pic, the little white rectangle above the cars marks sea level. 

 


...some flowers & the required saloon with stuffed animals!

 








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