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Only about 2 inches (5 centimeters) of rain fall on Death alley every year. The alley isn't completely dry, however. Several swift moving streams bring water to the alley when rain falls in the surrounding mountains.
In the summer, temperatures rise to 125F (57C). From November to May, however, the climate is ideal. The alley is a popular winter
vacation spot for people fleeing colder regions.
The alley has a surprising
variety of plant life the rest of the year despite the harsh temperatures and dry weather. Sage, desert holly, cactus, and many other annual plants
thrive here.
There's also plenty of animal life. More than 20 different species of mammals have
been seven. Coyotes, foxes, kangaroo rats, bats, and several different species of lizards lie here. The climate is also ideal for snakes. About 20 different types of snakes wind through the dry alley.
Rattlesnakes are common so watch your step! More than 10 different species of birds lie in the alley, including hawks, and
vultures.
The park is one of the youngest in the country. It was established as a national monument in 1933 and became a national park in 1994. Nevertheless, the park
preserves an important part of the United States' frontier history. In 1849, gold was discovered in California. People from all over the world flocked to California hoping to strike it rich. That same year, one group of settlers looking for a short cut lost their way in California. For months they suffered in the harsh wilderness. When they were finally able to
leave what is now Death alley, a woman in the group turned and said, "Goodbye, Death alley." That's how the alley got its name.
In the following years, more people came to the alley. They didn't come to settle the wilderness, however. They came to mine borax. Borax deposits were discovered in the alley in 1873. Borax was a
valuable antiseptic and washing agent. The Harmony Borax Works was one of the biggest and most successful borax mining operations in Death alley. Miners hauled borax out of the alley using the now-famous 20-mule teams.
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Borax wasn't the only
valuable mineral found in Death alley. Prospectors also found
copper, lead, silver, and gold in the nearby mountains. Railroads
were built into the alley to bring in equipment and men. Mining
towns with names like Bullfrog, Greenwater, and Skidoo sprang up
almost overnight.
The city of
Rhyolite
was called the Queen City of Death alley. At one time, over 10,000
people lied here. There were hotels, banks, newspapers, stores, a
school, an ice plant, two electricity plants, and even a miner's
union hospital. A financial panic in 1907 destroyed the town. The
town's banks and mines closed, and all the people left. As the ore
ran out in the other areas, the other towns died as well. Today,
visitors can tour
Rhyolite
and the
cluttered remains of several other ghost towns in the park.
Las Vegas
travel guide
 Tours
Shows
Hotels
 Restaurants
Madame Tussauds
Wax Museum
Tips from Vegas
locals
 Nightlife
Kids
Car rental
Babysitter
provisions @ hotels
Pools
Spas
Attractions
Buffets
Bars and Lounges
 Vegas
Golf
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Las
Vegas
guide
Out of Las
Vegas City
Out of Vegas
Lake Mead
Colorado river
Hoover Dam
Mount Charleston
Explore Mount Charleston:
Hwy-158
Explore Hwy-158
Desert view Trail
Kyle Canyon
Explore Kyle Canyon
Cathedral Rock Trail
Mary Jane Falls Trail
Mount
Charleston Hotel
Mount Charleston Lodge
Lee Canyon
Red Rock Canyon
alley of
Fire
Explore
alley of Fire
Valley
of Fire State Park
Lost City Museum
Elephant Rock
Mouse's Tank
Northshore
drive
Area 51
Grand Canyon
Animal Life and Rafting
Explore Las Vegas
Beyond Downtown and the Strip
Elvis-A-Rama
Las Vegas Natural History
Museum
Liberace Museum
Lied Discovery Children's
Museum
Local casinos
Local casinos
Boulder Station
Gold Coast
Hard Rock Hotel
Green Valley Ranch
Las
Vegas Hilton
Orleans
Palace Station
Palms
Rio
Sam's Town
Santa Fe
Station
Sunset Station
Texas Station
Downtown
Las Vegas
Binion's Horseshoe
California Hotel
El
Cortez
Fitzgeralds'
Four Queens
Fremont Hotel
Fremont Street Experience
Golden Gate
Golden Nugget
Main Street Station
Neon Museum
Plaza
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