ALBUM 3) DEATH VALLEY, CALIFORNIA
Saturday, 26 December 2009 ~ Harmony Borax Works, Mesquite Flat Dunes, Hells Gate ~
ALBUM 3) DEATH VALLEY, CALIFORNIA ALBUM 3) DEATH VALLEY, CALIFORNIA %20Sat%2C%2026%20Dec%20-%20Waking%20Up%20With%20the%20Failed%20Christmas%20Terror%20Attack%20(Attempted%20Bombing%20of%20Northwest%20Airlines%20flight%20253).JPG "a) Sat, 26 Dec - Waking Up With the Failed Christmas Terror Attack (Attempted Bombing of Northwest Airlines flight 253).JPG")
%20In%20Our%20Comfy%20Cabin%20(Nr.%20217)%20Watching%20The%20News%20Unfolding%20Itself%20(Which%20Would%20Take%20and%20Last%20Quite%20Some%20Days%20Btw).JPG "b) In Our Comfy Cabin (Nr. 217) Watching The News Unfolding Itself (Which Would Take and Last Quite Some Days Btw).JPG")
%20Furnace%20Creek%20Ranch%20-%20%20Detailed%20Map.jpg "c) Furnace Creek Ranch - Detailed Map.jpg")
%20The%20Lane%20of%20the%20200's%20-%20Checking%20Out%20a%20Bit%20After%20Noon%20(As%20Usual%2C%20We%20Are%20the%20Last%20Ones%20%3B-).JPG "d) The Lane of the 200's - Checking Out a Bit After Noon (As Usual, We Are the Last Ones ;-).JPG")
%20Early%20Afternoon%2C%20Back%20at%20the%20Furnace%20Creek%20Visitor%20Center%20%26%20Museum.JPG "e) Early Afternoon, Back at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center & Museum.JPG")
%20Today%20We%20Are%20Going%20To%20Dig%20Into%20the%20History%20Of%20Death%20Valley%2C%20It's%20People.JPG "f) Today We Are Going To Dig Into the History Of Death Valley, It's People.JPG")
%20History%20-%20The%20Ancestors%20Of%20The%20Timbisha%20Shoshone%20Tribe.JPG "g) History - The Ancestors Of The Timbisha Shoshone Tribe.JPG")
%20The%20Timbisha%20Shoshone%20Tribe%20Received%20Federal%20Recognition%20in%201983.%20But%20the%20Tribe%20Did%20Not%20Receive%20A%20Land%20Base%20Until%20...jpg "h) The Timbisha Shoshone Tribe Received Federal Recognition in 1983. But the Tribe Did Not Receive A Land Base Until ...jpg"){kind=small}
%20Nov%201%2C%202000%20-%20Timbisha%20Homeland%20Act%20Transferred%20More%20Than%207%2C700%20Acres%20Of%20Land%20In%20California%2BNevada%20To%20The%20Tribe.JPG "i) Nov 1, 2000 - Timbisha Homeland Act Transferred More Than 7,700 Acres Of Land In California+Nevada To The Tribe.JPG")
%20The%20Lost%20'49ers%2C%20Emigrants%20(Gold%20Rush)%20Coming%20Into%20the%20Valley%20in%201849%20(Their%20Experience%20Caused%20It's%20Morbid%20Name).JPG "j) The Lost '49ers, Emigrants (Gold Rush) Coming Into the Valley in 1849 (Their Experience Caused It's Morbid Name).JPG")
%20Mining%20Booms.%20Most%20Profitable%2BLongest-Sustained%20Was%20Borax%20Mining%20-%20The%20Famous%2020-Mule-Team%20Wagons%20(Transport).JPG "k) Mining Booms. Most Profitable+Longest-Sustained Was Borax Mining - The Famous 20-Mule-Team Wagons (Transport).JPG")
%20Today%20Exploring%20North%20Of%20Furnace%20Creek%20Area%20-%201st%20Stop%20Just%20a%20Few%20Miles%20Up%20The%20Road.JPG "l) Today Exploring North Of Furnace Creek Area - 1st Stop Just a Few Miles Up The Road.JPG")
%20Harmony%20Borax%20Works%20Ruins%20-%20A%20Short%20Footpath%20With%20Interpretive%20Signs.JPG "m) Harmony Borax Works Ruins - A Short Footpath With Interpretive Signs.JPG")
%20The%20Twenty%20Mule%20Teams%20Are%20Long%20Gone%2C%20The%20Last%20Remaining%20Wagons%20Kept%20as%20An%20Artifact.JPG "n) The Twenty Mule Teams Are Long Gone, The Last Remaining Wagons Kept as An Artifact.JPG")
%20David%20Decides%20He%20Wants%20To%20Take%20Some%20Pictures%20With%20His%20New%20Camera%20Afterall%20%20~%20Back%20To%20The%20Car%20Again%20%3B-).JPG "o) David Decides He Wants To Take Some Pictures With His New Camera Afterall ~ Back To The Car Again ;-).JPG")
%20After%20Borax%20Was%20Found%20Near%20Furnace%20Creek%20Ranch%20(Then%20Called%20Greenland)%20in%201881.JPG "p) After Borax Was Found Near Furnace Creek Ranch (Then Called Greenland) in 1881.JPG")
%20William%20T.%20Coleman%20Built%20the%20Harmony%20Plant%20and%20Began%20to%20Process%20Borax%20Ore%20in%20Late%201883%20or%20Early%201884.JPG "q) William T. Coleman Built the Harmony Plant and Began to Process Borax Ore in Late 1883 or Early 1884.JPG")
%20Borax%20~%20The%20White%20Gold%20Of%20The%20Desert.JPG "r) Borax ~ The White Gold Of The Desert.JPG")
%20Harmony%20Borax%20Works%20Was%20One%20Of%20Death%20Valley's%20First%20Borax%20Operations%20(1883-1888).JPG "s) Harmony Borax Works Was One Of Death Valley's First Borax Operations (1883-1888).JPG")
%20Hier%20ben%20ik!.JPG "t) Hier ben ik!.JPG")
%20Got%20My%20Camera%20Now%20%3B-).JPG "u) Got My Camera Now ;-).JPG")
%20Workers%20Refined%20Borax%20By%20Seperating%20The%20Mineral%20From%20Unwanted%20Mud%2BSalts.JPG "v) Workers Refined Borax By Seperating The Mineral From Unwanted Mud+Salts.JPG")
%20A%20Simple%20But%20Time-Consuming%20Process.JPG "w) A Simple But Time-Consuming Process.JPG")
%20Borax%20Will%20Not%20Crystallize%20At%20Temperatures%20Above%20120%20Degrees%2C%20So%20The%20Plant%20Stopped%20Operating%20During%20Summer.JPG "x) Borax Will Not Crystallize At Temperatures Above 120 Degrees, So The Plant Stopped Operating During Summer.JPG")
%20To%20Keep%20The%20Crystallizing%20Vats%20Cool%20The%20Rest%20Of%20The%20Year%20....JPG "y) To Keep The Crystallizing Vats Cool The Rest Of The Year ....JPG")
%20Workers%20Wrapped%20Them%20With%20Water-Soaked%20Felt%20Padding%20(Visible%20In%20The%20Photograph).JPG "z) Workers Wrapped Them With Water-Soaked Felt Padding (Visible In The Photograph).JPG")
%20For%20More%20Than%20A%20Century%20The%20Twenty%20Mule%20Team%20Has%20Been%20The%20Symbol%20of%20the%20Borax%20Industry.JPG "za) For More Than A Century The Twenty Mule Team Has Been The Symbol of the Borax Industry.JPG")
%20On%20Product%20Labels%2C%20In%20History%20Books%2C%20And%20On%20Television%20(Picture%20Taken%20In%20Furnace%20Creek%20Visitor%20Center).JPG "zb) On Product Labels, In History Books, And On Television (Picture Taken In Furnace Creek Visitor Center).JPG")
%20The%20Status%20Is%20Well-Earned%3B%20Mule%20Teams%20Were%20Getting%20The%20Product%20To%20Market.JPG "zc) The Status Is Well-Earned; Mule Teams Were Getting The Product To Market.JPG")
%20Although%20The%20Teams%20Only%20Ran%20for%20Six%20Years%20(1883%20to%201889)%20....JPG "zd) Although The Teams Only Ran for Six Years (1883 to 1889) ....JPG")
%20...%20They%20Have%20Made%20An%20Enduring%20Impression%20Of%20The%20Old%20West.JPG "ze) ... They Have Made An Enduring Impression Of The Old West.JPG")
%20For%20Centuries%20Humans%20Have%20Exploited%20Borax%20For%20Many%20Important%20Uses.JPG "zf) For Centuries Humans Have Exploited Borax For Many Important Uses.JPG")
%20Chinese%20Laborers%20Scraped%20the%20Borax%20Off%20The%20Salt%20Flats%20and%20Carried%20It%20By%20Wagon%20To%20The%20Refinery.JPG "zg) Chinese Laborers Scraped the Borax Off The Salt Flats and Carried It By Wagon To The Refinery.JPG")
%20They%20Received%20%241.30%20per%20Day%2C%20Less%20Lodging%2BThe%20Cost%20of%20Food%20They%20Bought%20at%20the%20Company%20Store.JPG "zh) They Received $1.30 per Day, Less Lodging+The Cost of Food They Bought at the Company Store.JPG")
%20Ruins%20of%20the%20Shelters%20In%20The%20Distance.JPG "zi) Ruins of the Shelters In The Distance.JPG")
%20Chinese%20Workers%20Slept%20and%20Ate%20Here%20(Other%20Exployees%20Lived%20at%20what%20is%20now%20Furnace%20Creek%20Ranch).JPG "zj) Chinese Workers Slept and Ate Here (Other Exployees Lived at what is now Furnace Creek Ranch).JPG")
%20The%20Financial%20Problems%20of%20Owner%20William%20T.%20Coleman%20and%20Borax%20Discoveries%20in%20Other%20Parts%20of%20California%20....JPG "zk) The Financial Problems of Owner William T. Coleman and Borax Discoveries in Other Parts of California ....JPG")
%20...%20Forced%20the%20Harmony%20Operation%20to%20Close%20in%201888%2C%20After%20Five%20Years%20in%20Operation.JPG "zl) ... Forced the Harmony Operation to Close in 1888, After Five Years in Operation.JPG")
%20Back%20to%20the%20Car%20...%20Moving%20On.JPG "zm) Back to the Car ... Moving On.JPG")
%20Btw%2C%20All%20Along%20We've%20Been%20Admiring%20the%20Nice%20Quietness%20of%20Death%20Valley%20(Aswell%20the%20Snowy%20Mountains%20-%20Zoomed%20In).JPG "zn) Btw, All Along We've Been Admiring the Nice Quietness of Death Valley (Aswell the Snowy Mountains - Zoomed In).JPG")
%20After%20No.%208%20%20to%20No.%2010%20-%20Mesquite%20Flat%20Sand%20Dunes.jpg "zo) After No. 8 to No. 10 - Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes.jpg")
%20Driving%20Further%20Up%20North%20on%20the%20190.JPG "zp) Driving Further Up North on the 190.JPG")
%20Taking%20Us%20West%20Through%20The%20Park.JPG "zq) Taking Us West Through The Park.JPG")
%20A%20Halt%20Along%20The%20Way%20(Notice%20the%20Alluvial%20Fan%20Spreading%20Like%20an%20Apron%20at%20the%20Mouth%20of%20Canyon-Current%20Erosion).JPG "zr) A Halt Along The Way (Notice the Alluvial Fan Spreading Like an Apron at the Mouth of Canyon-Current Erosion).JPG")
%20Enjoying%20The%20Quietness%20and%20Taking%20Some%20Pictures.JPG "zs) Enjoying The Quietness and Taking Some Pictures.JPG")
%20Before%20Exploring%20Further%20the%20Dunes%2C%20Driving%20A%20Bit%20Further%20Into%20Stovepipe%20Wells%20Village.JPG "zt) Before Exploring Further the Dunes, Driving A Bit Further Into Stovepipe Wells Village.JPG")
%20We%20Are%20at%20Sea%20Level%20Elevation%20Now.JPG "zu) We Are at Sea Level Elevation Now.JPG")
%20The%20Stovepipe%20Wells%20Village%20Concession%20Offers%20Resort%20Accommodations%2BLimited%20RV%20Park.JPG "zv) The Stovepipe Wells Village Concession Offers Resort Accommodations+Limited RV Park.JPG")
%20We%20Had%20a%20Pee-Break%2BWarming%20Up%20In%20the%202%20SouvenirStores%20(i.e.%20Watching%20the%20News-Failed%20Christmas%20Terror%20Attack).JPG "zw) We Had a Pee-Break+Warming Up In the 2 SouvenirStores (i.e. Watching the News-Failed Christmas Terror Attack).JPG")
%20Have%20A%20Closer%20Look%20At%20that%20Mountain%20(Panamint%20Range)-The%20Various%20Bands%20of%20Sediments%20Have%20Been%20Thrust%20Upward....JPG "zx) Have A Closer Look At that Mountain (Panamint Range)-The Various Bands of Sediments Have Been Thrust Upward....JPG")
%20...%20and%20Twisted%20Into%20An%20Almost%20Vertical%20Direction%20(The%20Extraordinary%20Geologic%20Forces%20That%20Have%20Shaped%20the%20Region).JPG "zy) ... and Twisted Into An Almost Vertical Direction (The Extraordinary Geologic Forces That Have Shaped the Region).JPG")
%20Mesquite%20Sand%20Dunes.JPG "zz) Mesquite Sand Dunes.JPG")
%20Bit%20Chilly%20Here%20%3B-).JPG "zza) Bit Chilly Here ;-).JPG")
%20For%20Dunes%20To%20Exist%20There%20Must%20Be%20A%20Source%20Of%20Sand%2C%20Prevailing%20Winds%20To%20Move%20The%20Sand%20.....JPG "zzb) For Dunes To Exist There Must Be A Source Of Sand, Prevailing Winds To Move The Sand .....JPG")
%20And%20A%20Place%20For%20The%20Sand%20To%20Collect.JPG "zzc) And A Place For The Sand To Collect.JPG")
%20Well%2C%20Quite%20Some%20Space%20Here!%20%3B-).JPG "zzd) Well, Quite Some Space Here! ;-).JPG")
%20The%20Eroded%20Canyons%20and%20Washes%20Provide%20Plenty%20of%20Sand%20...JPG "zze) The Eroded Canyons and Washes Provide Plenty of Sand ...JPG")
%20...%20The%20Wind%20Seems%20to%20Always%20Blow%20(Especially%20in%20the%20Springtime)%20.....JPG "zzf) ... The Wind Seems to Always Blow (Especially in the Springtime) .....JPG")
%20But%20There%20Are%20Only%20a%20Few%20Areas%20in%20the%20Park%20Where%20the%20Sand%20is%20Trapped%20By%20Geographic%20Features%20Such%20As%20Mountains.JPG "zzg) But There Are Only a Few Areas in the Park Where the Sand is Trapped By Geographic Features Such As Mountains.JPG")
%20Mesquite%20Flat%20Dunes%20-%20These%20Dunes%20Are%20The%20Best%20Known%20and%20Easiest%20to%20Visit%20in%20the%20National%20Park.JPG "zzh) Mesquite Flat Dunes - These Dunes Are The Best Known and Easiest to Visit in the National Park.JPG")
%20Although%20The%20Highest%20Dune%20Rises%20Only%20About%20100%20feet%2C%20the%20Dunes%20Actually%20Cover%20a%20Vast%20Area.JPG "zzi) Although The Highest Dune Rises Only About 100 feet, the Dunes Actually Cover a Vast Area.JPG")
%20I%20am%20Going%20To%20Get%20My%20Own%20Camera%20-%20Mine%20Is%20Much%20Better!%20...%20%3B-).JPG "zzj) I am Going To Get My Own Camera - Mine Is Much Better! ... ;-).JPG")
%20To%20Continue%20The%20Geology%20Lecture%20~%20PolygonCracked%20Clay%20Of%20An%20Ancient%20Lakebed%20Forms%20the%20Floor.JPG "zzk) To Continue The Geology Lecture ~ PolygonCracked Clay Of An Ancient Lakebed Forms the Floor.JPG")
%20Mesquite%20Trees%20Have%20Created%20Large%20Hammocks%20That%20Provide%20Stable%20Habitats%20For%20Wildlife.JPG "zzl) Mesquite Trees Have Created Large Hammocks That Provide Stable Habitats For Wildlife.JPG")
%20David%20Back%20With%20His%20New%20Camera.JPG "zzm) David Back With His New Camera.JPG")
%20Yes%2C%20Indeed%20~%20Much%20Better%20Picture.JPG "zzn) Yes, Indeed ~ Much Better Picture.JPG")
%20See%2C%20That's%20How%20You%20Suppose%20To%20Take%20Pictures%20...%20David%20Says%20%3B-).JPG "zzo) See, That's How You Suppose To Take Pictures ... David Says ;-).JPG")
%20It's%20An%20Upgraded%20Point%20and%20Shoot%20Camera%2C%20You%20See.JPG "zzp) It's An Upgraded Point and Shoot Camera, You See.JPG")
%20With%20A%20Lot%20Of%20Extra%20Features%20Which%20Takes%20Quite%20Some%20Expertise%20...JPG "zzq) With A Lot Of Extra Features Which Takes Quite Some Expertise ...JPG")
%20...%20and%20Practise%20%3B-).JPG "zzr) ... and Practise ;-).JPG")
%20We%20Both%20Have%20Good%20Camera's%20%3B-)%20But%20The%20SunRays%20are%20Missing%20(And%20Those%20Dunes%20Too%20Crowded%20With%20People).JPG "zzs) We Both Have Good Camera's ;-) But The SunRays are Missing (And Those Dunes Too Crowded With People).JPG")
%20Moving%20On%2C%20Traveling%20Direction%20North-East%20-%20On%20Our%20Way%20to%20Beatty%20(Our%20Next%20Hotel%20Stop).JPG "zzt) Moving On, Traveling Direction North-East - On Our Way to Beatty (Our Next Hotel Stop).JPG")
%20Leaving%20the%20Sand-Dunes%20Behind%20Us.JPG "zzu) Leaving the Sand-Dunes Behind Us.JPG")
%20and%20Driving%20the%20DayLight%20Pass%20(374)%20Towards%20Amargosa%20Range.JPG "zzv) and Driving the DayLight Pass (374) Towards Amargosa Range.JPG")
%20Hells%20Gate%20(Elevation%202263)%20-%20Scenery%20Stop.JPG "zzw) Hells Gate (Elevation 2263) - Scenery Stop.JPG")
%20Catching%20Sunset%20Settling%20in%20Over%20the%20Valley.JPG "zzx) Catching Sunset Settling in Over the Valley.JPG")
%20While%20in%20Awe%20and%20Taking%20In%20the%20Serenity%20Of%20Mother%20Nature%2C%20Reminiscing%20About%20The%20Formation%20of%20the%20Death%20Valley.JPG "zzy) While in Awe and Taking In the Serenity Of Mother Nature, Reminiscing About The Formation of the Death Valley.JPG")
%20The%20Earliers%20Rocks%20Are%20Dating%20From%202%20Billion%20Yrs%20Ago%20(Precambrian%20Era)%20-%20Sections%20of%20the%20Black%2BPanamint%20Mountains.JPG "zzz) The Earliers Rocks Are Dating From 2 Billion Yrs Ago (Precambrian Era) - Sections of the Black+Panamint Mountains.JPG")
%20During%20the%20Paleozoic%20Era%20(300%20to%20500%20Mill%20Yrs%20Ago)%2C%20Seas%20Covered%20the%20Region%2C%20Leaving%20Layers%20of%20Marine%20Sediment%20...JPG "zzza) During the Paleozoic Era (300 to 500 Mill Yrs Ago), Seas Covered the Region, Leaving Layers of Marine Sediment ...JPG")
%20..%20and%20The%20Fossils%20of%20Many%20Types%20of%20Marine%20Animals.JPG "zzzb) .. and The Fossils of Many Types of Marine Animals.JPG")
%20The%20Present%20Landscape%20was%20Shaped%20Between%205-35%20Million%20Yrs%20Ago%2C%20During%20the%20Cenozoic%20Era%20(65.5%20Mill-Present).JPG "zzzc) The Present Landscape was Shaped Between 5-35 Million Yrs Ago, During the Cenozoic Era (65.5 Mill-Present).JPG")
%20After%20Faults%20Formed%20in%20the%20Earth's%20Crust%2C%20Exceptional%20Folding%2BVolcanic%20Action%20Uplifted%20the%20Mountain%20Ranges%20....JPG "zzzd) After Faults Formed in the Earth's Crust, Exceptional Folding+Volcanic Action Uplifted the Mountain Ranges ....JPG")
%20...%20and%20Lowered%20the%20Valley%20Floor%2C%20Creating%20a%20Graben.JPG "zzze) ... and Lowered the Valley Floor, Creating a Graben.JPG")
%20The%20Present%20Floor%20is%20Dropping%20on%20One%20Side%20and%20is%20Actually%208%2C000%20to%2010%2C000%20Feet%20Above%20Its%20Bedrock%20Base.JPG "zzzf) The Present Floor is Dropping on One Side and is Actually 8,000 to 10,000 Feet Above Its Bedrock Base.JPG")
%20Intervening%20Space%20is%20Filled%20By%20the%20Massive%20Amount%20of%20Debris%20Eroded%20From%20the%20Surrounding%20Mountains%20Over%20Time.JPG "zzzg) Intervening Space is Filled By the Massive Amount of Debris Eroded From the Surrounding Mountains Over Time.JPG")
%20During%20Ice%20Ages%2C%20Death%20Valley%20Was%20Periodically%20Filled%20By%20Large%20Lakes.JPG "zzzh) During Ice Ages, Death Valley Was Periodically Filled By Large Lakes.JPG")
%20Their%20Waves%20Carved%20Terraces%20on%20the%20Bordering%20Rocks-Their%20Evaporation%20Left%20Alternating%20Layers%20of%20Mud%20Salt%20Deposits.JPG "zzzi) Their Waves Carved Terraces on the Bordering Rocks-Their Evaporation Left Alternating Layers of Mud Salt Deposits.JPG")
 That Now Cover the Basin's Floor (Lake Manly was the Largest+Last in a Series of Such Lakes-Filled all of Death Valley).JPG)
%20The%20Last%20SunRays%20Disappearing%20On%20the%20Western%20Horizon.JPG "zzzk) The Last SunRays Disappearing On the Western Horizon.JPG")
%20Okay%2C%20I%20Think%20I%20Got%20the%20Sunset%20Fully%20Covered%20Now%20%3B-).JPG "zzzl) Okay, I Think I Got the Sunset Fully Covered Now ;-).JPG")
%20Early%20Evening%20Arrival%20in%20Beatty%20(Closest%20Town%20to%20Death%20Valley%20Natl%20Park%20-%20Population%20Approximately%201100%20Residents).JPG "zzzm) Early Evening Arrival in Beatty (Closest Town to Death Valley Natl Park - Population Approximately 1100 Residents).JPG")
%20Staying%20at%20The%20Atomic%20Inn%20(AKA%20Phoenix%20Inn)%20-%20%20A%20Cozy%20DELUXE%20Room%20(Just%20Remodeld%20%3B-).JPG "zzzn) Staying at The Atomic Inn (AKA Phoenix Inn) - A Cozy DELUXE Room (Just Remodeld ;-).JPG")
%20Ready%20To%20Explore%20This%20Small%20Town%20-%20Out%20On%20Our%20Mssion%20To%20Find%20Some%20(Healthy)%20Food%20To%20Eat.JPG "zzzo) Ready To Explore This Small Town - Out On Our Mssion To Find Some (Healthy) Food To Eat.JPG")
%20Actually%20We%20Kinda%20Have%20to%20Hurry%20-%20Not%20Many%20Restaurant%20Choices%20Here%20And%20They%20Close%20Early.JPG "zzzp) Actually We Kinda Have to Hurry - Not Many Restaurant Choices Here And They Close Early.JPG")
%20Well%2C%20We%20Just%20Got%20In%20Time%20To%20Order%20a%20Take-Out%20at%20The%20Ensenade%20Grill%20(Mexican%20Food)%20-%20Bean%20Burrito's%20(Vegetarian).JPG "zzzq) Well, We Just Got In Time To Order a Take-Out at The Ensenade Grill (Mexican Food) - Bean Burrito's (Vegetarian).JPG")
%20Fortunately%20We%20Are%20Creative%2BSufficient%20Enough%20To%20Fix%20A%20Nutrition%20Meal%20Afteralll%20-%20Bon%20Appetit!%20%3B-).JPG "zzzr) Fortunately We Are Creative+Sufficient Enough To Fix A Nutrition Meal Afteralll - Bon Appetit! ;-).JPG")