Unique and scenic photo opportunities
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We don't normally think of desert regions as being full of scenic beauty. However, Joshua Tree National Park is certainly an exception to that line of thought. You can capture very unique and beautiful desert pictures in this rugged and spectacular area. It is located in the high desert area of Southern California and takes in part of the Mojave Desert and the Colorado Desert.
This is known as Cap Rock. The top boulder appears to be perched precariously, but has in fact been there for a long time.
It used to be known as Joshua Tree National Monument. However, it was granted National Park status in 1994 and currently takes in 1,234 square miles of land. The town of Joshua Tree, California is just outside the park boundaries, and the city of Palm Springs, California is south of the park (about a 45 minute drive away).
Another view of Cap Rock with a Joshua Tree in the foreground.
Rocks and boulders are stacked and balanced creating very interesting formations.
The Joshua Tree itself is a very interesting type of "tree" and is only found at higher elevations in the desert here (It also grows in the Sonoran Desert in Western Arizona and in some pine forest areas of the San Bernardino mountains). It is an extremely slow growing tree averaging only a half-inch of growth per year. The tallest tree in Joshua Tree National Park is 40 feet high and is estimated to be over 900 years old.
This Joshua Tree is one of the taller and older trees found in the Park.
Looking out over the small desert town of Joshua Tree, California.
Joshua Tree is one of many California National Parks and is famous for its many large natural piles of rocks and loose boulders. They seem to sprout up everywhere throughout the Park. Rock climbers are drawn to this area from all over the world. And photographers are also drawn here to photograph the many incredible rock formations. They can also capture some fabulous desert sunset pictures in this area.
Rock climbers come from all over the world to scale these rock formations and massive boulders.
Joshua Trees are silhouetted against the desert sky sunset.
Another beautiful desert sunset in Joshua Tree, California. It is a great place to capture that special and unique desert picture.
There are many kinds of wildlife found here at
Joshua Tree National Park
. Bobcats, coyotes, jackrabbits and roadrunners are frequently seen. You might also spot a Golden Eagle in this area. And there are dangerous critters as well such as scorpions, tarantulas and the poisonous sidewinder rattlesnake. Besides Joshua Trees, there are many types of desert plants growing including the Cholla cactus (which has extremely sharp needles). It is far from an arid wasteland. The elevation of the Park climbs to more than 4,000 feet and there is a lookout point where you can get a great view on a clear day. From this point you can see Mount San Jacinto (10,800 feet high), the city of Palm Springs, and even the large Salton Sea. It is a place you don't want to miss visiting.
This is known as Skull Rock (for obvious reasons). There are dozens of unique rock formations scattered throughout this special park.
I call this photograph the "Face of Grumpy" after the character in the Disney movie "Snow White". You could give many rock formations a name here in Joshua Tree National Park.
Please visit my Yosemite National Park page also.
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