White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1930-08-01
DEATH VALLEY MADE
GARDEN FOR PERIOD
Queer Quirk of Weather
Makes Desert Bloom.

which queer Quirk Of the weather
made into beautiful flower garden
for brief period during the early
summer, has somber fame because
Of it's name, it's heat, and the fact
that it is the lowest bit of dry land
in the United States. The bottom of
the valley, which lies in eastern Cali
fornia, is 276 feet below sea level;
and in summer the temperature rises
to 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the
shade. A bulletin from the National
Geographic society describes this SUBJ
cellar of the western world.
Originated Like Dead Sea Area.
death valley resulted from ter
restrial Sinking spell tens OF thou.
sands Of years ago." says the bulletin.
"just as dozens of other valleys in the.
Great Basin area did, and just as did
the worlds most famous below sea
level area, the Dead sea region Of Pal
estine. At the time the valley was
formed long, narrow block Of earth,
not more than dozen miles wide in
this particular locality, broke from
it's rocky mornings and settled down
ward, leaving sheer cliffs on each side.
"since that distant day of Death
valleys genesis, two important devel-
opments have been under way: rains
and winds have been cutting the
bounding cliffs into rugged, sloping
mountainsides; and have been trans
porting the material to the valley
floor. Slowly Death valley is commit
ting suicide; gradually the floor is
being built up; and In time-after the
passage Of some thousands Of years
no part Of it will remain below sea
level.
I'm normal years only a few inches
Of rain fall on the valley floor. But
during May Of this year there were
daily showers for more than half the
month. Under this stimulus seeds.
that must have lain dormant for years,
sprouted and large patches Of the
less salty areas of the valley became
carpeted with wild flowers and
grasses.
"More rain falls on the mountains
bounding the valley, the Armagosa
range TO the northeast, and the Pana-
mint range to the southwest. It is
the precipitation on these ranges-the
eroded remains Of the cliffs that at
first lowered over the valley-that is
gradually filling the great sink with
debris. From the valley floor one sees
fha mouths nf n,,r,oro,,e oo,uon. .s
before each spreads fan-shaped de-
post of sand, salt and stones brought
down by freshets. The water that
pours out of these canyons after rains
In the mountains is usually quickly
drunk up by the dry sands; or, If it
accumulates in the lowest depressions
Of the valley, it rapidly exaporates in
the hot, dry desert air, leaving a de.
post Of salt.
Approximately 500 square miles lie
below sea level in Death valley. In
width, the depression varies between
five and twelve miles. From end to
end, it extends northwest and south
east for 125 miles. It lies approx.
mately parallel to the long, diagonal
surveyed line that forms the greater
part Of the boundary between Nevada
and California 1t is few miles south
west of the boundary, not far from it's
mid point, and thus lies wholly within
California.
Usually DesoIate.
"The valley usually presents a DESC
late appearance. The lowest areas
are salt flats. Most of the relatively
higher portions Of the floor have an
abundance Of salt grains, too, mixed
with the sand Here and there old sa-
line crusts are broken into hard Jagged
pieces. In places the sand and salt
drift into dunes. The area is not
wholly devoid Of life. An occasional
stunted mesquite bush manages to ex-
list In the shifting sand. In the autumn
and winter and early spring a few
horned 'toads' and other lizards scam.
per about; but these animals are wise
enough to migrate to more hospitable
regions before summer sets in.
From the steep sides of Death val
ley few small, scattered springs of
good water trickle. These have been
carefully marked. Other springs are
SO impregnated with minerals that
their waters are unfit for use. One
stable spring gushes into the valley.
With the aid Of its waters small tracts
Of alfalfa and number of trees are
growing. Near this touch of civiliza.
ton are important borax mines that
have been worked for years.
death valley gained It's doleful title
In 1S49 when party of overland tray.
elers bound for California persisted in
Its wastes. Board-marked graves and
an occasional human skeleton show
that the valley has taken it's further
toll of life; but with railway near
the southeastern end, wagon and auto.
mobile tracks throughout the depres.
sion, marked springs, an irrigated
RANCH and mines, Death valley has
necessarily lost some Of it's somber