Death Valley

Valley, southeastern California, U.S. The lowest, hottest, driest portion of North America, it is about 140 mi (225 km) long and 5–15 mi (8–24 km) wide. The Amargosa River flows into it from the south and contains a small pool, Badwater, near which is the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere at 282 ft (86 m) below sea level. Death Valley was formerly an obstacle to pioneer settlers (hence its name); it later was a centre of borax mining. Declared a national monument in 1933, it was made a national park in 1994; the park covers 5,270 sq mi (13,650 sq km) and extends into Nevada.