National Park Tour - Death Valley NP Quiz

Answer: largest national park south of Alaska

Death Valley spans approximately 3.4 million acres throughout southeastern California and parts of Nevada. It is the largest park in every state but Alaska where five of the eight parks there are larger.

Answer: 134 degrees F

The record temperature of 134 degrees F (56.7C) was observed on July 10, 1913. Interestingly, the coldest Death Valley temperature was also recorded that year, on January 8, 1913, at a temperature of 15 degrees F.

Answer: 4.73 inches

Less than 5 inches! The 4.73 inch annual rainfall during the calendar year of 2005 broke a 92-year-old record at Death Valley.

Answer: 282 feet

Standing at Badwater Basin, you can look up at the surrounding cliffs to see a sign 282 feet above you that shows you where sea level would be. The Dead Sea in the Middle East is the lowest place in the world at 1371 feet below sea level.

Answer: black bear

There are 51 species of native mammals, 307 species of birds, 36 species of reptiles, three species of amphibians, five species of fish, and one subspecies of fish in Death Valley. But no black bears.

Answer: 1

As far as history tells us, only one prospector died: an elderly man already weakened by the long journey. They were traveling in December, so the temperatures were mild, and they found plenty of water at Travertine Spring. They survived by eating their oxen, and were eventually led out of the valley by two young men who had discovered the pass through.

Answer: borax

The famous "Twenty-Mule-Team Borax" soap hails from the mining of borax in Death Valley. And in actuality, the teams were made up of 18 mules and 2 horses.

Answer: Walter Scott, Death Valley prospector

Walter Scott, known as "Death Valley Scotty", was a flamboyant and colorful man of the area. He struck up a friendship with millionaire Albert Johnson and his wife during a business deal. Though the profits of the business deal were never realized, the Johnsons fell in love with Death Valley and began to build a desert retreat there. Scotty bragged that the castle was being built from the profits of his gold mine, and thus the castle was named, "Scotty's Castle".

Answer: Rocks have been moved by wind and formed tracks in the ground

Though no human has ever witnessed it, scientists believe that during periods of rainfall, the surface of the playa becomes smooth and slick. When strong winds blow, the wind can push rocks up to 700 pounds across the surface, forming paths or grooves behind them. One scientist studied the rocks for 7 years, recording and mapping their progress.

Answer: 1 million

Approximately 1 million people visit Death Valley each year. Of all its extremes, the most deadly thing about Death Valley isn't the sun, the heat, or the rattlesnakes. It is the "single car rollover", which kills more visitors than all the other reasons combined. So if you visit Death Valley, drive carefully on the narrow, rocky, twisting roads!

As always, the National Geographic Guide to the National Parks and the National Park website helped me with my facts for this quiz.