Camping and Parks

Stunning Aerial Images of Death Valley National Park

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Aerial image of Ubehebe Crater, Death Valley photographed by Jassen Todorov. (Jassen Todorov/Caters Agency)

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Aerial image of Ubehebe Crater, Death Valley photographed by Jassen Todorov. (Jassen Todorov/Caters Agency)

It's known as one of the world's most extreme places—and the hottest place on earth. But viewed from above, Death Valley exudes lush, stunning beauty in its sand dunes, volcanic craters and thirsty rivers. San Francisco-based photographer Jassen Todorov captured spectacular images as he flew over this 3.3-million-acre desert wilderness along the California-Nevada state line, offering a unique bird's-eye view of its natural wonders.

"The Death Valley National Park is one of my favorite destinations to visit as there is always such a great contrast of scenery— snowy mountains with valleys and dunes as well," Todorov, also a professor of music at San Francisco State University, said.

One of the amazing scenery he captured was Badwater Basin, which at 282 feet below sea level, is the lowest point in North America. The basin is home to an undrinkable pool and fields of salt plats. The site was once a shallow lake but today is usually mostly dry, though during wetter seasons, it is sometimes fed by a stream from a small spring-fed pool. The Basin covers nearly 200 square miles, making it one of the largest salt flats in the world.

(MORE: 10 Incredible Hidden Gems of California)

Todorov also snapped spectacular photos of the vast Mesquite Flast sand dunes, which rise about 100 feet. This dune field includes three types of dunes: crescent, linear, and star shaped. Polygon-cracked clay of an ancient lakebed forms the floor and mesquite trees have created large hummocks that provide stable habitats for wildlife, according to the National Park Service.

The photographer, who have previously been featured on weather.com for his aerial photography and won second place in the 2015 Sony World Photography Awards, was also fascinated by the historical significance of Death Valley. "Human civilization dates back 10,000 years in the valley and the Ubehebe Crater is between 2,000 and 7,000 years old itself," he said.

Ubehebe Crater is a large volcanic crater 600 feet deep and half a mile across, and was created by a powerful volcanic steam explosion, according to the NPS.

While Death Valley National Park is open year-round, visiting this unforgiving land during the sweltering summer months requires extra planning and extra care. On a sweltering July day in 1913, temperatures in Death Valley reached 134 degrees Fahrenheit, setting a record that still stands today. And the park is still setting records. On April 22, 2012, the hottest temperature ever during the month of April in North America was recorded in Death Valley: 113 degrees F, which eclipsed the old record by 2 degrees.

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