Stovepipe Wells, human settlement in Inyo County, California, United States of America
Stovepipe Wells is a small community in the middle of Death Valley in Inyo County, California, situated near sea level and located within Death Valley National Park. It offers a hotel, store, gas station, and restaurants for visitors traveling through on State Route 190.
The first settlement at this location began around 1906 when tents were built to help travelers crossing the valley. In 1926, Hermann Eichbaum constructed a hotel and a toll road that transformed it into a tourist destination and improved connections to other areas.
The name Stovepipe Wells comes from a marker made of stovepipe that travelers used to locate a water source when sand covered it. This waterhole sat on ancient Native American routes and became a key stopping point for prospectors and travelers crossing the desert.
Visitors should prepare for extreme heat, especially from June to September, when temperatures rise above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) and sometimes exceed 120 degrees (49 degrees Celsius). It is important to carry plenty of water and plan activities for the cooler morning and evening hours.
An old water source was marked with a stovepipe to help travelers locate it after sand covered it, giving the place its unusual name. This practical system was so effective that the marker is still mentioned in historical accounts and maps today.
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