Tümpisa

Death Valley is a long, narrow basin enclosed by steep mountain ranges. Its floor descends below sea level, where salts have accumulated across the flats of Badwater Basin. Mountains to the west strip moisture from passing clouds, leaving the valley exceptionally dry and hot. Yet the surrounding heights and desert springs have long been home to the Timbisha Shoshone, who travelled with the seasons to hunt and gather mesquite beans and pinyon nuts.