The Harmony Borax Works was built on a hill next to the salt flats in 1882 to refine borax collected
from Death Valley. It operated until 1889. Today the ruins of the works are preserved as part of the
historical heritage of Death Valley. The wagon used to haul the borax to the railroad 165 miles away,
along with remnants of some houses are also extant.
This
mechanical marvel was purchased in 1894 and it was intended to replace the
20-Mule Teams that hauled
borax from the Borate to Daggett. Old Dinah required constant maintenance and had major problems with sand and
steep grades. After a one year trial, mules proved more productive and reliable, but they too, were replace later by
a narrow gauge railroad in 1898.
The salt lake at Badwater in Death Valley - the lowest
point in the western hemisphere
with
an elevation of 282 feet ( 86 meters ) below sea level.
Zabriesky Point in Death Valley
