Death Valley has its first Super Bloom since 2005! - Polidicks

[quote] [t]http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/160223113240-08-death-valley-wildflowers-exlarge-169.jpg[/t] (CNN)Death Valley National Park, one of the hottest places on Earth, is experiencing a rare occurrence fit for the record books. Despite its inhospitable climate, the below-sea-level basin in Furnace Creek, California -- about 150 miles west of Las Vegas -- is now teeming with millions of blooming wildflowers. The desert valley hasn't seen this many blooms since 2005 because the area receives very little rain, with an annual average of 2 inches. Summer temperatures in the valley, which contains the lowest point in the United States, can sizzle to approximately 120 degrees Fahrenheit, with a nighttime low about 90 degrees. Death Valley's colorful flower blanket began budding due to a perfect combination of the elements: periodic rainfall, solar warmth and reduced winds. El Niño, a climate cycle, has also brought more rain than usual to the valley. The array of colorful flowers includes the pale white gravel ghost and the staple desert gold, which turns the valley floor into a sea of yellow. Twitter and Instagram users who have visited Death Valley in recent days have been calling the phenomenon a "superbloom," the term for when a large amount of flowers bloom in an area. [t]http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/160223112736-01-death-valley-wildflowers-exlarge-169.jpg[/t][/quote] [url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/23/us/death-valley-wildflowers/]CNN[/url] Even in the most inhospitable lands, life still finds a way and god does it show. If it wasn't for current work obligations, I'd high tail it to Arizona right now and go visit Death Valley. It's one of those things you'll only get to see once in a lifetime.

Isn't this where that one band filmed that music video? I'm blanking on the name right now.

I guess now it is Life Valley I'll go. In all seriousness, I didn't think that was really something that happened there. Life finds itself in unlikely places, but I've never seen Death Valley depicted as anything other than a valley full o' death. And rocks that slide around.

You'll get your chance to go, last time it happened was in 2005, not an ultra rare occurrence. Unless you're a dog I guess.

That's not far from where I live. Maybe I'll go take a trip.

Damn, my stepmom just left from there today for a photoshoot.

[QUOTE=Treelor;49806296]That's not far from where I live. Maybe I'll go take a trip.[/QUOTE] How do you even survive, the californian desert can be absolutely scorching, I spent a few weeks of my vacation in California in Palmdale and while I absolutely loved the combination of scorching heat and basically no humidity, I would probably not like being there for any longer than that. This is a pretty amazing phenomenon, the place was pretty crazy when I was there.

[QUOTE=Vitisus;49805867]I guess now it is Life Valley I'll go. In all seriousness, I didn't think that was really something that happened there. Life finds itself in unlikely places, but I've never seen Death Valley depicted as anything other than a valley full o' death. And rocks that slide around.[/QUOTE] If I remember correct, there are flowers that occasionally grow in the Sahara.

Life... Uh... Finds a way

[QUOTE=Fourm Shark;49807450]Its like being in a hot room, you want to leave and go somewhere cool or get under a fan, but it's hot air everywhere. AC is the only relief.[/QUOTE] I remember seeing this series of maps that showed how many Americans lived in the west before and after the invention of air conditioning and the difference was drastic, lol

[QUOTE=Supacasey;49806731]Life... Uh... Finds a way[/QUOTE] [media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkWeMvrNiOM[/media]

It's easier for life to survive in extreme heat than in supreme cold. It's not surprising to find something surviving in the hottest deserts more than the coldest tundras.

It's actually kinda nice out here, not at Death Valley but I live in a part of the Mojave above Palm Springs and it's actually a little green and it seems a little more lively. It's nice.

[QUOTE=purvisdavid1;49808336]It's actually kinda nice out here, not at Death Valley but I live in a part of the Mojave above Palm Springs and it's actually a little green and it seems a little more lively. It's nice.[/QUOTE] If I remember correctly, 2005 had a bunch of rain that also caused a huge wildflower bloom near that area too. Me and my dad usually camp with friends out by highway 177 and the 62 (in the old army desert training center, kinda between desert center and blythe). I remember one time when I was maybe 10, Danby dry lake was full and there was a ton (I mean take one step and there's bug goo) of caterpillars, and fat chuckwallas eating the flowers. That must have been the last time this happened. I hope there will be flowers left out there in april, that is when we are thinking of our next trip. Also if you ever get the chance to camp the mojave or colorado deserts do it. It's great.

It's a pretty death valley now. Warning: death valley is still dangerous even though it looks pretty. Double warning: I have no idea if it's actually dangerous outside of getting lost in there

Death Valley is very dangerous in the summer, don't go there in the summer like I did.

Desert Flowers usually take about that long to bloom, not really that surprised. Considering that Death Valley has had a couple of droughts in the past few years it seems about time.

I want to visit one day I live close enough

So that's why Undertaker lives there.