Read the video transcript here
Marc Saia, park visitor:
“It's unbearably hot.
It will be 51 or 54 degrees today.
It's really hot.
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Death Valley, California: At 54 degrees Celsius, the national park reached almost record-breaking temperatures on Wednesday.
As one of the driest areas on earth, the area is known for extreme heat.
Temperatures of more than 51 degrees in June, however, are unusual.
Abby Wines, spokeswoman for Death Valley National Park:
“It's early to have a heat wave of this magnitude.
It's happened before, but it's not that common. "
The summer of 1913 held the current heat record at 57 degrees.
According to park spokeswoman Abby Wines, it could be cracked this year.
Park spokeswoman Abby Wines:
“In a normal summer, I would expect this to be just the beginning because we usually have temperatures of 51 degrees or more in July.
It happens every single summer.
So this is just the beginning of the heat in Death Valley. "
The extreme weather did not prevent locals and tourists from visiting the park - on the contrary.
The thermometer in front of the Furnace Creek Visitor Center has become a major attraction.
Park visitors gladly accepted the heat for the shimmering view.
Chris Foster, park visitor:
“Once you've set off and dressed appropriately, it's not that bad. The impressions exceed the scorching heat. "
