Death Valley

VR Tour

In March of 2005, Death Valley had the largest wildflower bloom in 50 years. Here are the panoramics from that period.

There was more than just yellow Desert Gold in Death Valley that week, but that is the most common plant, able to cover entire fields for panoramics. Be sure to visit the regular photo pages to see all the other plants.

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Lake floods Badwater

There is not supposed to be a giant lake in Death Valley. For this view, I am standing in the lake (later I got caught in quicksand) and taking a picture of K. on a spit, before Telescope Peak and the Panamint range, reflected in the still waters.

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Borax works

The highest resolution of 3 shots taken at sunrise near the Harmony Borax Works near Furnace Creek. The terrain is interesting on its own and the fields were covered with yellow Desert Gold flowers.

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Devil's Golf Course

The Devil's Golf course is a large field of strange salt structures, impossible to walk or play golf on. Here are the Panamints behind it.

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Devil's Golf Course Tall

A wider angle shot of the same scene

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The southern entrance to Death Valley

At the lower entrance to Death Valley, the largest bloom was in progress on the day we arrived. It moved north while we were there.

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Long stretch of yellow flowers

On a more hazy day we still see a large field of Desert Gold in front of the mountains, in a 200 degree view.

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Dunes of Death Valley at sunset

At sunset, the dunes near Stovepipe Wells take on interesting shading. If you look at this one in hi-res you see all the photographers and other tourists dotting the dunes to watch or take photos.

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Sunrise at Furnace Creek overlook

In the opposite direction from the borax works is a lovely field with salt hills, shot into the light of sunrise.

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Daytime view of Badwater during flood

A higher view of lake Badwater. You can see, just to the right, the visitor station.

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Badwater "lake" at sunset

Near the same vantage point, but at sunset.

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Dunes, Flowers and Mountains

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Antelope Poppy preserve, before the poppies

On the way back we visited Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve. It was raining, and we were about 3 weeks early for the poppies but this is still an interesting 360. Some much better pictures of this reserve are coming.

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Southern entrance in bloom

At the southern entrance, a wider angle shot of the largest bloom.

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Mountains and flowers

Another shot of mountains and fields of yellow. Nicer light but less bloom.

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Open fields of flowers, 2005

A differnt field further down the road

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Sunrise in Furnace Creek area

Medium angle 360 degree shot with furnace creek and the borax works.

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Wide view of Furnace Creek

Super wide angle shot showing contrail structure.