“The Land That God Had Forsaken” | National Geographic

[Music]

[Music] it’s been called the land that God had

it’s been called the land that God had

it’s been called the land that God had forsaken long considered one of the

forsaken long considered one of the

forsaken long considered one of the harshest environments on earth and for

harshest environments on earth and for

harshest environments on earth and for good reason

summertime we start to hit a hundred

summertime we start to hit a hundred usually in mid-april and usually don’t

usually in mid-april and usually don’t

usually in mid-april and usually don’t continue with that route through

continue with that route through

continue with that route through mid-october in the middle of July June

mid-october in the middle of July June

mid-october in the middle of July June July and August one hundred and twenty

July and August one hundred and twenty

July and August one hundred and twenty easily Allen Van Valkenburg knows he’s

easily Allen Van Valkenburg knows he’s

easily Allen Van Valkenburg knows he’s been a park ranger in Death Valley for

been a park ranger in Death Valley for

been a park ranger in Death Valley for over a decade the hottest I felt was 129

over a decade the hottest I felt was 129

over a decade the hottest I felt was 129 the day a hit 129 I went out sat in the

the day a hit 129 I went out sat in the

the day a hit 129 I went out sat in the in the shaded area that was outside just

in the shaded area that was outside just

in the shaded area that was outside just to kind of think about what it felt like

to kind of think about what it felt like

to kind of think about what it felt like and there was a slight breeze blowing

and there was a slight breeze blowing

and there was a slight breeze blowing you know you think a slight breeze would

you know you think a slight breeze would

you know you think a slight breeze would cool you down because it was in the

cool you down because it was in the

cool you down because it was in the shade that side of me

shade that side of me

shade that side of me it felt if I thought I was going to come

it felt if I thought I was going to come

it felt if I thought I was going to come away being Redbirds

away being Redbirds

away being Redbirds built that pot on the side the vast

built that pot on the side the vast

built that pot on the side the vast expanses of sand and rock are seemingly

expanses of sand and rock are seemingly

expanses of sand and rock are seemingly devoid like in the valleys most hostile

devoid like in the valleys most hostile

devoid like in the valleys most hostile spot the miles and miles of salt flats

spot the miles and miles of salt flats

spot the miles and miles of salt flats are completely parched on average the

are completely parched on average the

are completely parched on average the valley gets less than two inches of rain

valley gets less than two inches of rain

valley gets less than two inches of rain each year some years they don’t get any

each year some years they don’t get any

each year some years they don’t get any at all

at all

at all in this extreme desolate landscape life

in this extreme desolate landscape life

in this extreme desolate landscape life is often hidden of course there are

is often hidden of course there are

is often hidden of course there are common creatures bighorn sheep that live

common creatures bighorn sheep that live

common creatures bighorn sheep that live up in the mountains coyotes snakes

up in the mountains coyotes snakes

up in the mountains coyotes snakes spiders and other desert denizens they

spiders and other desert denizens they

spiders and other desert denizens they all have one thing in common the ability

all have one thing in common the ability

all have one thing in common the ability to sniff out water in a place that looks

to sniff out water in a place that looks

to sniff out water in a place that looks bone-dry

bone-dry

bone-dry there is water I mean surrounding the

there is water I mean surrounding the

there is water I mean surrounding the hills and canyons of this park there are

hills and canyons of this park there are

hills and canyons of this park there are over 500 different small seeps and

over 500 different small seeps and

over 500 different small seeps and springs we are at the largest collection

springs we are at the largest collection

springs we are at the largest collection of springs Ranger Charlie Callahan knows

of springs Ranger Charlie Callahan knows

of springs Ranger Charlie Callahan knows that where there’s water there’s life

that where there’s water there’s life

that where there’s water there’s life and in Death Valley there’s more water

and in Death Valley there’s more water

and in Death Valley there’s more water than meets the eye it’s that ability for

than meets the eye it’s that ability for

than meets the eye it’s that ability for both fauna and flora to survive here

both fauna and flora to survive here

both fauna and flora to survive here that Kelley and find so remarkable there

that Kelley and find so remarkable there

that Kelley and find so remarkable there is amazing there’s over a thousand

is amazing there’s over a thousand

is amazing there’s over a thousand different species of plants found in

different species of plants found in

different species of plants found in Death Valley there there’s several dozen

Death Valley there there’s several dozen

Death Valley there there’s several dozen of them that are endemic that are found

of them that are endemic that are found

of them that are endemic that are found nowhere else in the world and although

nowhere else in the world and although

nowhere else in the world and although most of Death Valley looks exactly as it

most of Death Valley looks exactly as it

most of Death Valley looks exactly as it did thousands of years ago the seeming

did thousands of years ago the seeming

did thousands of years ago the seeming desolation can’t be full of surprises