Death Valley National Park in California is a lake basin that is the lowest and hottest place in the U.S. and has set some temperature records! It is over 250 feet below sea level and is a dry, hot piece of land. It’s highest temperature was over 134°F! How is it so hot in this one place?
It is all because of it’s low elevation. Elevation is how high or low a piece of land is compared to sea level. Death Valley is much lower than the area around it, meaning that the moist air coming from the Pacific Ocean is getting blocked by the tall edges and rims of the basin. There is also a major mountain range (Sierra-Nevada) that is blocking that moist air, making the climate so dry. That is why Daeth Valley National Park is so hot!!