Never heard of it? It is an area northeast of Las Vegas that President Obama set aside in 2016. Trump wants to shrink it. It comprises some 300,000 acres of pure and unadulterated desert landscape and is home to Desert Bighorn Sheep and Mountain Lions. I loved the remoteness. We camped about 20 miles from the nearest human. Little Finland is an area within the monument that showcases grotesque forms of weathered sandstone. I plan to return soon….
Summer is here and with no rain for the last few months, the land and my sinuses are parched here in Southern Utah. A forest fire erupted nearby, somewhat emulating a newly erupted volcano. The alfalfa fields are tall but a spark away from torching as well.
As Death Valley has come to life this winter with its large floral display, Badwater Basin is where the flowers don’t flourish. Badwater Basin is probably where Death Valley got its name. Nothing lives there. These salt flats cover some 200 square miles and provide little hope for life. The salt is a result of the hot and arid climate in the park that evaporates any moisture, leaving only the salt behind. At 282 feet below sea level, Badwater is the lowest point in North America, thus creating extremes in temperatures and dryness.
