The California National Parks

Some pictures:

One of the hottest places on earth!  Also the lowest place in the Western Hemisphere - 282 feet below sea-level at Badwater.  The valley gained its forbidding name and reputation in the 1840's when a band of gold seekers started across the valley, believing that it was shortcut to the gold fields.  One of the pioneers died trying to escape the area.  No one found much gold there, but the discovery of another mineral, borax, initiated exploitation of the Valley and the famous 20-mule teams drew wagon loads weighing as much as 40 tons.

A highlight of this bleak area is Scotty's Castle at the valley's north boundary.  This is an amazing sight in this isolated region.  It was built as a vacation retreat in the 1920's for a wealthy Chicagoan.

(click on the small pictures to see it full size below.  Use the arrows to see more pictures, there are 18 picture in this series)

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