Quick Stats
Total Area
3,367,627 acres
Creation Date
October 31, 1994
Entrance Fee
$20 per vehicle per week
Time Zone
Pacific (GMT-7 Daylight, GMT-8 Standard)
Lowest Elevation
-282 feet at Badwater
Highest Elevation
11,049 feet at Telescope Peak
Lowest Average Temp
37°F in December
Record Low Temp
0°F in 1988
Highest Average Temp
115°F in July
Record High Temp
129°F in 2005
Park Creation Timeline
1933
On February 11, 1933, President Herbert Hoover signs the proclamation creating Death Valley National Monument.
1984
International Biosphere Reserve status is given to the park by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) as part of the Mojave and Colorado Deserts Biosphere Reserve.
1994
On October 31, 1994, Congress passes the Desert Protection Act, which greatly enlarged Death Valley and elevated it to national park status.
Animals and Plants
The park's large mammals include desert bighorn sheep, coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions, and mule deer. Most mammals, and life in general, is small at Death Valley due to the extreme lack of water. Small mammals include several species of mice, cottontails, and squirrels, along with raccoons, ringtails, badgers, and 5 species of bats. The large majority of all life in Death Valley is nocturnal.
36 species of reptiles can be found in the park. Of note are desert tortoises, many types of lizards and skinks, and two types of rattlesnakes, the panamint and the mojave.
The park has at least 307 species of birds at least part of the year, and is surprisingly one of the best birding parks in the country. The NPS has prepared an outstanding list of species,
available here.
The saltpan at the lower elevations is virtually barren, other than sparse growth around relatively reliable areas of water such as Salt Creek. Plant communities higher up include creosote bush, desert holly, and mesquite at the lower elevations and Joshua tree, pinyon-juniper, limber pine and bristlecone pine in the higher elevations.
Death Valley National Park
Info at (760) 786-3200
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