Title: Facts About Death Valley National Park | USA Today
Headings: Facts About Death Valley National Park
Facts About Death Valley National Park
Travel Tips
Overview
Statistics
Travel Tips Video
Inhabitants
Attractions
Temperatures
Origin of the Region's Name
Movie Location
US National Parks on the West Coast
Travel Tips
Death Valley National Park
Joshua Tree National Park
Crater Lake National Park
Olympic National Park

Content: Telescope Peak is the park's highest point. Bristlecone pines actually grow on its summit. Temperatures
The highest temperature ever recorded in North America occurred at Death Valley National Park's Furnace Creek Ranch. In July, 1913, the temperature rose to 134 degrees Fahrenheit--a world record at the time that Libya has since eclipsed. Origin of the Region's Name
Long before it was established as a national park, Death Valley received its name from a group of 49ers who attempted to cross the desert as a shortcut to gold in California. Dehydration set in quickly; one person died, and several others were rescued before they followed their friend to his desert grave. One of the 49ers turned around as they prepared to leave the desert and is quoted as saying, "Goodbye, Death Valley." Movie Location
A number of films besides Antonioni's "Zabriskie Point" have been shot partially on location within the confines of Death Valley National Park For instance, the windswept Mesquite Flat Dunes is where R2-D2 and C-3PO cross the desert on their way to a fateful meeting with Luke Skywalker in "Star Wars." At least a dozen movies and TV shows with the words "Death Valley" in the title actually were filmed in or near Death Valley.