Flying Thursday July 10, 2009.

California, and Death Valley

I am flying the state flag of California today. On this day, July 10, 1913, the temperature in Death Valley, California, USA was recorded at 134 °F (56.7 °C), the highest ever recorded in the United States.

The Lone Star on the flag: In 1836, Juan Alvarado and Isaac Graham led a revolution against Mexican rule. During this first revolt, rebels were able to capture Monterey and declared California "a free and sovereign state". Their rebellion failed to secure independence for California, but it inspired the design of flag of the Bear Flag Revolt, the Lone Star Flag of California contained a single red star on a white backround.

The original Grizzly Bear Flag was raised for the first time Sonoma, California in June 1846 by the men who became known as the "Bear Flaggers". A US Naval Lieutenant John Missroon reported the flag's existence as of June 17, 1846. California had been part of Mexico since Mexican independence in 1821 as the department of Alta California, and under the control of Spain for many years before that.

The "California Republic"proclaimed by settlers in, 1846, in Sonoma actually lasted less than a month, but is retained on the flag.

Death Valley

Death Valley is the lowest, dryest, and hottest location in North America. Badwater, a basin located within Death Valley, is the specific location of the lowest elevation in North America at 282 ft (85.5 m ) below sea level. This point is a mere 76 miles (123 km) east of Mount Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous United States.

Mount Whitney 14,505 feet (4,421 m) above sea level.

Death Valley holds the record for the highest reliably reported temperature in the Western hemisphere, 134°F (56.7°C) at Furnace Creek in 1913—just short of the world record, which was 136°F (58°C) in Al 'Aziziyah, Libya, on September 13, 1922.

Death Valley, 282 ft (85.5 m ) below sea level.

Located on the border between California and Nevada, southeast of the Sierra Nevada mountains in the Great Basin and the Mojave Desert, Death Valley constitutes much of Death Valley National Park and is the principal feature of the Mojave and Colorado Deserts Biosphere Reserve. It is located mostly in Inyo County, California. It runs from north to south between the Amargosa Range on the east and the Panamint Range on the west; the Sylvania Mountains and the Owlshead Mountains form its northern and southern boundaries, respectively. It has an area of about 3,000 sq mi (7,800 km2). Death Valley shares many characteristics with other places around the world that lie below sea level.

Drag the cursor in this photo below to see a panorama of Death Valley