In 1883 the railroad reached this part of the Colorado Valley, whose sharp hilltops look like needles. The first country road was the National Trails Highway, which later became part of the statewide Route 66. In 1950 the Colorado was tamed by a dam and the days of regular flooding were over. The land in the valley could be used for agriculture and the resulting lake for tourism, which gave Needles a certain boost. At 16,000km², this is the largest school district in the USA in terms of area, stretching from Amboy to Parker Dam. Like Death Valley, Needles is known for its extreme temperatures. In summer it is not uncommon for temperatures to reach 50°C and the winters are also extremely warm with daily maximum temperatures between 17° and 27°C and minimum values of 4° to 16°C at night. On August 13, 2012, it rained at a temperature of 48°: The hottest rain ever recorded fell to the ground, with only 11% relative humidity, most of it still evaporating in the air. Still a world record!
Note: If you follow the original course of Route 66, you will not find any noteworthy or even inexpensive gas stations, restaurants and motels for the next 150 miles to Barstow.
Translated by Google •
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