Dear friends: Death Valley National Park, in Southern California, U.S.A. is a fascinating vast Desertland of extremes. It existed as a large National Monument for many years until it was designated as a National Park in 1994. It boasts the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere (280 feet below sea level) near the Badwater area of the park, while its highest elevation reaches 11,049 feet above sea level at the summit of Telescope Peak! Death Valley N.P. basin has the highest temperature on record of 134 degrees F., exceeded only by the Sahara Desert in North Africa. The usual temperatures in the summer are between 110s and 1920s F. The average annual rainfall is less than 2 inches! There is plenty of sunshine. Winters are very pleasant and I have found months of November through February to be the best times to visit.

Some Important Considerations for the Visitor: The park is large and its attractions are scattered several miles apart. Roads are good (speed limits enforced). But, you have to drive your car quite a bit to reach those destinations. Cars should be in good condition. Gas is available at select locations. Carry enough drinking water with you. Food is available at the two major areas (see below). You must have arrangements (reservations advised)to secure night accommodations within the park)). The two main centers of activities are STOVEPIPE WELLS area, and about 20-25 miles farther to the south, the FURNACE CREEK area. The Furnace Creek Inn is the more luxurious Hotel but is much more expensive. Do not plan on coming during the Park's busiest times e.g.Easter week,Thanksgiving, around President's Birthday and 49ers Death Valley encampment around the second week of November.

For your convenience, with the opening image, I provided a schema or diagram to list the various important sites with approximate locations from the North down to the South below. I am also listing the major attractions within the park, with brief descriptions. Hope you enjoy the photographs. Best wishes. JARIS

MAIN(12)ATTRACTIONS:

A. STOVEPIPE WELLS "Division."

1. ON THE WAY TO DEATH VALLEY (REST AREA)
2. SAND DUNES
3. UBEHEBE CRATER
4. SCOTTY'S CASTLE
5. RHYOLITE

B. FURNACE CREEK "Division."

6. FURNACE CREEK RANCH, FURNACE CREEK INN and ADJOINING AREA
7. ZABRISKIE POINT
8. ARTIST'S PALETTE
9. DANTE'S VIEW
10.DEVIL'S GOLF COURSE
11.ROCKS,CANYONS & DESERT
12.BADWATER

1. ON THE WAY TO DEATH VALLEY N.P.: (REST AREA)
Stopping at a road-side Rest Area, I found a rich interplay of light and shade, which I photographed.

2. SAND DUNES: These are the number one attractions in the park. I drove 20-25 miles, well before sunrise, from Furnace Creek Ranch to catch the early rays of the sun just caressing the top of the mountains and dunes. Imagine the wonderful sight and ecstasy at the interplay of light and shadow on the magnificant dunes.

3. UBEHEBE CRATER: Next, comes a great geological wonder in the midst of Death Valley. You will come to a 600 ft. deep and half-a-mile wide sunken ground - a crater in the middle of a hilly, rocky terrain. It was created some 5,000 years ago from a volcanic steam explosion within the earth's crust. You can even walk to the bottom of the crater and ascend up easily if you have enough steam! There is another but smaller crater nearby, called Little Hebe Crater. I visited the area on several trips, and on occasions the wind was howling and blowing extremely fast and fierce and I had real fears that I may dislodge my foothold on the ground and be flown all the way into the huge crater. So, holding on to all of my photo equipment, I have made frantic runs and retreat to my only place of refuge, the car!

4. SCOTTY'S CASTLE: Now, who would ever think of finding a magnificant and elegant Moorish-Spanish style "CASTLE" within a vast desertland? The fact is that there is one and you ought to see it and enjoy a full tour of it while you are there. It was built in 1920s by a Chicago businessman who named the castle after his close friend and companion, Walter Scott.

5. RHYOLITE: A mining town of the past, and now a ghost town in Nevada State, close to the town of Beatty, is just 15-18 miles outside the mid-eastern boundary of Death Valley National Park and California. As you will see in the few images, Rhyolite offers historical and photographic subjects of interest. Among the images is the "Bottle House," which is built from 51,000 bottles

6. FURNACE CREEK RANCH, FURNACE CREEK INN and ADJOINING AREAS. Non-native Americans first reached Death Valley in 1849 searching for California gold. But, the region ultimately became the focus for Borax mining, and twenty-mule teams were used to haul the Borax ore outside of Death Valley. In this section you see a few images of the Borax and wagon memorabilia.

7. ZABRISKIE POINT: This is a location the photographers should not miss. It has a very sharp and pointed mountain peak, known as "Manly Beacon," where the falling early light of the morning sun creates a glorious pink glow. The surrounding rocky formations are spectacular and once were the site of a prehistoric lake!

8. ARTIST'S PALETTE: Driving on a narrow but paved street, called the Artist's Drive, you will come across a spectacular rocky landscape. What looks like an artist's palette, is an assortment of colors of red,yellow,violet,green,brown and black, and produced by oxidation of iron,copper and other minerals. These colors are most pronounced on overcast or cloudy days, or in the afternoon sunlight.

9. DANTE'S VIEW: While Death Valley N.P. has the lowest point in the western hemisphere, it has also got higher elevations and mountain peaks. On an easy though twisting drive, you ascend up to 5,475 feet above sea level to enjoy a grand vista! From here you can see much of Death Valley See the lowest point at Badwater area with its Salt flats below and the lofty peaks of the Panamint Mountain range across. On a clear early morning you may be rewarded with distant views of the snow-covered mountain peaks of Sierra Nevada, and possibly, Mount Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous U.S.A.

10. DEVIL'S GOLF COURSE: It is a vast field of a salty terrain, with strange and very irregular- shaped crystals of small pinnacles scattered all over. If the Devil ever played golf, this would have been the place! I would challenge golfers to come and try their luck here!



11. DEVIL'S GOLF COURSE: What a name! I didn't give this one, but it describes an extensive salty land where rain action on salt produced a very uneven terrain consisting of numerous small pinnacles, up to one foot tall. Try your photographic imagination over these funny projections. Wear nonslippery shoes and have no fear of the Devil there, but for your own safety avoid being around when darkness sets in!

12. ROCKS and CANYONS: Much of the Death Valley National Park is Rocks and Canyons: Titus Canyon, Mosaic Canyon, Marble Canyon, Grotto Canyon, etc. Many of these are reached by unpaved dirt roads. Depending upon the time available and interest you may want to explore some of them.

13. BADWATER: Finally, we come to the last stop at Death Valley National Park. When you step down here, you will almost be at the lowest point of 280 ft below the sea level! The best times to visit and photograph this vast landscape are at sunrise and early morning. Reflections of the lofty snow-clad mountains of the background into the pool at your footsteps are spectacular! You may want to sit, relax or walk and explore into the extensive landscape of the Salt Flats.

The tour of the enchanting and magical lands of Death Valley now comes to an end. I know many of you have viewed these images and read the descriptions. I am deeply grateful to your favors of spending your valuable time and for your generous comments. My life has been enriched by your great kindness! Best wishes to all of you and your families for a great New Year 2010! JARIS