Joshua Tree National Park

Located in southern California's Mojave Desert, Joshua Tree has so much plant diversity and impressive geological features that at times seems like another planet. Most rock formations in the park are over 100 million years old, but even more disorienting are the Joshua trees themselves. Part yucca and part palm, the unique tree received its name from Mormon settlers in the mid-nineteenth century who thought it reminded them of a Biblical story in which Joshua reaches his hands to the sky in prayer.