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Death Valley: A vast space, full of surprises

By: Jaymi Heimbuch on June 14, 2013, 5:16 p.m.

Cacti in Death Valley

Photo: Albert de Bruijn/Flickr

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Thriving plant life

If the diversity of animal life surprises you, the diversity of plant life will downright shock you. More than 1,000 species of plants are found here, and more than 50 of these species are found no where else in the world.

A person stands on a stony hill, looking at the view of a sunset at Zabriskie Point in Death Valley National Park

Death Valley mountains

Death Valley National Park sign

Storm clouds over Death Valley

A hiker in Death Valley

Paved road in Death Valley

A salt creek in Death Valley

The winding road that leads to the entrance of Death Valley National Park

A lizard between some rocks in Death Valley

Cacti in Death Valley

Badwater Basin at Death Valley

Badwater Basin salt flats in Death Valley

Dried up lake bed in Death Valley

Racetrack Playa in Death Valley

Sunset in Death Valley

Stars over Death Valley

Thriving plant life

If the diversity of animal life surprises you, the diversity of plant life will downright shock you. More than 1,000 species of plants are found here, and more than 50 of these species are found no where else in the world.