Death Valley from above

These mesmerising aerial photos of California’s Death Valley are offering a rare bird’s-eye view of a desert that has been deemed the hottest place on earth and the driest in North America.

The overhead snaps show the spectacular Ubehebe Crater, Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes and Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America with an elevation of 282ft below sea level.

The images were taken by San Francisco-based photographer and pilot Jassen Todorov as he flew over the unforgiving land.

The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes were used as a filming location for Star Wars, replicating the deserts of the planet Tatooine in Star Wars.

Ubehebe Crater, a volcanic depression, is 600ft deep and half a mile wide, and is estimated to be between 2,000 and 7,000 years old.

Badwater Basin is the lowest point in North America with an elevation of 282ft below sea level (pictured: Amargosa River)

His incredible shots show the Amargosa River cutting through Badwater Basin and the astonishing depth of the volcanic Ubehebe Crater.

The crater is 600ft deep and half a mile wide, and is estimated to be more than 2,000 years old.

With hypnotic ridges, the barren Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes were used as a filming location for the original Star Wars, replicating the deserts of the planet Tatooine in Star Wars.

Despite its extreme climate, the stunning Death Valley National Park lures thousands of hikers, campers, and cyclists every year.

The Amargosa River is nearly 200 miles long, cutting through eastern California, including Badwater Basin, and southern Nevada.

Badwater Basin, nearly eight miles long and five miles wide, occasionally floods when Death Valley is hit by severe thunderstorms.

Photographer and pilot Jassen Todorov snapped this mesmerising shot of Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes as he flew overhead.

Todorov said the national park is one of his favourite destinations to photograph thanks to its 'great contrast of scenery'.

Todorov, a 40-year-old professor of music, said: ‘The Death Valley National Park is one of my favourite destinations to visit as there is always such a great contrast of scenery – snowy mountains with valleys and dunes as well.

‘It's a hard place to be able to shoot as it is so hot – the hottest place in North America – and is always exciting to be able to visit.

‘I love to explore the world and the valley is one of the best places to do so as it has so much diversity.

Despite its extreme climate, the stunning Death Valley National Park lures thousands of hikers, campers, and cyclists every year.

Death Valley holds the record for the hottest temperature ever recorded (57C), at Furnace Creek in July 1913 (pictured: Badwater Basin)

Summer temperatures often top 49C in the shade with overnight lows dipping to around 35C, said the National Park Service.

‘The history of the area is amazing as well. Human civilisation dates back 10,000 years in the valley and the Ubehebe Crater is between 2,000 and 7,000 years old itself.’

Death Valley also holds the record for the highest air temperature ever recorded (57C), at Furnace Creek on July 10, 1913.

Summer temperatures often top 49C in the shade with overnight lows dipping to around 35C, said the National Park Service.