Scovone Star Magazine 2015-2016 | Page 55

LOST IN THE DESERT? Brendan Hish WELCOME TO DEATH VALLEY
 When settlers went through Death Valley, California, they were probably expecting to find a plain with very little life at all.Well they were wrong! Every year, hundreds of people visit Death Valley National Park. This is because of Death Valley’s environment, life, and sights. Death Valley is very different than other national parks.First we learn about the environment. A sign showing how deep Badwater Basin is in feet and in meters. ENVIRONMENT The first section in this article is probably the amazing one. That some place far from the equator gets low rain. Death Valley gets fraction of the amount of rain a desert gets. Death Valley has the lowest elevation in North America. In fact, it’s the lowest land area in the world. Also, the lowest place in Death Valley's Badwater Basin. It is 282 feet below sea level.To learn more learn more about the environment keep reading.          Death Valley is the hottest place in North America. The reason for this is simple. Warm air rises and because Death Valley is surrounded by mountains,it comes back down. That’s why Death Valley is hot all the time. Just like heat, Death Valley is the driest place in North America. However,it floods in Death Valley when it snows in the mountains and the snow melts. The driest period was from 1931 to 1934. In that time Death Valley got 0.64 inches of rain. SIGHTS AND SOUNDS After hearing about the environment, you’re probably wondering about where you can go. One place you might want to go in Death Valley's Furnace Creek. Furnace Creek is not a creek. It’s a ranch!! It’s also in the heart of Death Valley.At Furnace Creek, there is a general store and saloon – 55 –