The sun sets over the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes in Death Valley National Park, near Furnace Creek, during a heatwave impacting Southern California on July 7, 2024. (Etienne Laurent/AFP/Getty Images)

Death Valley set the record for the hottest air temperature on Earth at 134 degrees on July 10, 1913. Despite the record being more than 100 years old, Death Valley is still getting hotter overall. In fact, in 2024, there were nine consecutive days with temperatures of 125 degrees or higher. Beyond being the hottest place on Earth, Death Valley is also known for being the lowest and driest. With its lowest elevation at 282 feet below sea level and annual rainfall averaging just 1.94 inches, Death Valley also claims the title of the driest place in North America.

While the World Meteorological Organization lists the 1913 reading as the highest temperature ever recorded, it’s worth noting that the record is heavily disputed. Scientists published an investigation of the record this year and argued the temperature that day was likely 14 degrees lower.

Many meteorologists believe the true record was set more recently in Death Valley, when the thermometer hit 130 degrees in 2021.

Death Valley National Park visitors take in the view from Zabriskie Point on Monday, July 8, 2024, when temperatures were as high as 125 degrees. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images)

Despite the name, there has always been life in Death Valley. The native Timbisha Shoshone people have lived here for generations, hunting and harvesting seasonal foods such as pinyon pine nuts and mesquite beans. The valley is also home to many species of wildlife and native plants. But climate change is making it harder for them to survive.

Lower parts of the basin, such as Badwater, are on average 2 to 3 degrees warmer than higher elevations. Those warmer winters are killing bristlecone pines. In some parts of the valley, these trees experienced a 70% mortality rate over the past decade.

In addition, about a third of Death Valley’s bird species have declined over the last century, disrupting the food web and leaving predators with less to eat.

You may be surprised by how many people choose Death Valley as a travel destination. In 2025, the national park welcomed more than 1.32 million visitors. In fact, many of them arrive during the hottest months of the year: June, July and August.

A view of Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes as the temperature shows 115 degrees Farenheidt at Furnace Creek Visitor Center in Death Valley National Park on July 17, 2025. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu/Getty Images)

Death Valley is the largest national park in the contiguous United States. In fact, it’s roughly the size of Connecticut. The coolest hours of the day typically fall between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m., but temperatures don’t drop by much. Even in the early morning, they usually range from 85 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit.

The heat risk is right there in the name. According to the National Park Service, someone dies from a heat-related illness roughly every other year. However, the leading cause of death in the park is car accidents on its winding roads.

Death Valley reaches these extreme temperatures largely because of its low elevation and the mountains that surround it. Normally, hot air rises, but in Death Valley it becomes trapped within the basin by the surrounding peaks. As the air circulates and remains confined, it continues to heat up, driving temperatures to extreme levels.

Tourists take photos at an unofficial thermometer in the afternoon heat at Furnace Creek Visitor Center, during a long-duration heat wave on July 9, 2024 in Death Valley National Park, California. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Death Valley is best known for its hiking, scenic views and world-class stargazing. Golden Canyon is a popular short hike, while Dante’s View offers one of the park’s most spectacular overlooks. “Star Wars” fans can also take a self-guided tour of filming locations, including sites used to depict the desert planet Tatooine. Death Valley appeared in two films from the franchise: A New Hope and Return of the Jedi.

If you visit, you can pose with the giant outdoor thermometer shown above to commemorate just how hot your trip was.

A trailhead sign reads "Heat kills!" and lists details on the extreme heat risks at Death Valley National Park in Death Valley, California on Aug. 6, 2024. (Bridget Bennett/The Washington Post/Getty Images)

The National Park Service offers plenty of tips for avoiding heat-related illness, including hiking only in the early morning and sticking to higher elevations, where temperatures are cooler. Visitors are also encouraged to drink at least a gallon of water a day and watch for signs of heat exhaustion, such as nausea and headaches. The hydration reminders even extend to the park’s restrooms, where charts advise how much water to drink based on the color of your urine.

Tourists from New York watch the Milky Way Galactic at Zabriskie Point of Death Valley National Park in California, United States on May 29, 2025. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu/Getty Images)

A near-full moon put on a dazzling display above San Francisco’s skyline earlier this week. Take a look in the app.