Where two great deserts meet, Joshua Tree National Park reveals a stark, mesmerising landscape shaped by wind, time and extremes. In Southern California, United States, the higher Mojave Desert merges with the hotter, lower Colorado Desert, creating a unique blend of ecosystems and remarkable biodiversity.

Across nearly 324,000 hectares, spiky Joshua trees—actually a species of yucca—rise from sandy plains, their twisting silhouettes punctuating fields of weathered granite boulders. Massive rock formations, cracked and sculpted over millions of years, attract climbers and hikers seeking routes through this rugged terrain. Desert bighorn sheep, reptiles and hundreds of bird species thrive here, while spring can bring colourful wildflower blooms. After dark, the park's International Dark Sky status makes it one of the country's premier places for stargazing, with the Milky Way often visible to the naked eye.

Designated a national monument on this day in 1936, Joshua Tree became a national park in 1994, inviting visitors to experience the beauty and resilience of the American desert.