Environmental Factors

Dante's View
For many years, national parks have been increasingly feeling the effects of external factors caused by natural and human activities. Even the most isolated places on earth are being affected. Death Valley, even though it is more than 120 miles from the nearest major city, is no exception.
 
A road is obscured through sand or smog in the air

Air Quality

One might think that the air would be pristine here due to our remote location, however, pollutants can be carried on the wind.

dark night skies

Lightscape/ Night Sky

Death Valley National Park harbors some of the darkest night skies in the United States.

tamarisk

Non-Native Species

Several species of tamarisk were brought to the United States beginning in the early 1800s. By 1913, it had invaded the California desert.

Climate Change

Climate Change

No one quite knows what the future will hold for Death Valley’s climate.

10,000 abandoned mines

Mining in Death Valley

Since the 1848 discovery of gold in California, Death Valley has experienced over 140 years of boom and bust mining.

a rainbow touches eroded yellow hills with a dark, stormy background

Wilderness

Death Valley National Park has the largest area of designated National Park wilderness in the contiguous United States.

Last updated: October 24, 2020

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

P.O. Box 579
Death Valley, CA 92328

Phone:

760 786-3200

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