DEATH VALLEY, Calif. -- Death Valley National Park, Bar Z Adventures, and the Death Valley Natural History Association have announced the introduction of the GPS Ranger to visitors at the park.

Thanks to satellites thousands of miles in the sky, visitors can tour the vast beauty of Death Valley and enjoy the expertise of park rangers even when there isn't one around.

The Ranger -- a handheld multi-media device -- uses groundbreaking technology to automatically deliver audio and video to visitors as they tour the highlights of the park at their own pace.

The Ranger is simple: It delivers the park ranger message based on satellite recognition of GPS coordinates. In effect, visitors to the site can have their own personal "ranger" guide them through a tour of the park.

"The GPS Ranger combines the innovations of today's technology with the knowledge and talents of the veteran park staff," said a park official. "We know we will never be able to provide face-to-face visitor services for every visitor to the park, but we can provide quality alternatives that allow the visitor the opportunity to customize their visit with the GPS Ranger. We are very excited about the prospect that this new technology will help inspire the next generation into a life long commitment of stewardship and appreciation for Death Valley National Park."

"Unlike other electronic solutions available to visitors in the past," said Lee Little, inventor of the system and founder of Bar Z Adventures, the GPS Ranger uses GPS to trigger rich multimedia content when the user comes within range of a point of interest. Audio, video, text and pictures are integrated to tell the stories that have woven the fabric of America."

Here is how the device works: Visitors touring the desert location while holding a GPS Ranger will automatically see and hear meaningful interpretive content as they walk or drive around the park. The geologic story of the valley unfolds as visitors experience the lowest geographic point in North America. Visitors discover the powerful connection of the native Shoshone to the land they call Timbisha.

The challenges faced by gold prospectors and early pioneers are revealed to GPS Ranger users as they are immersed in the spectacular rock formations of this desert landscape. A visitor may also view the entire program on demand, regardless of location, by scrolling the touch screen of the GPS Ranger for content files.

"In our attempt to keep Death Valley National Park relevant as we move into the 21st century we must embrace new technologies to help us with our educational and interpretive mission. This partnership with the National Park Service and Bar Z Adventures is our first step in doing this," said David Blacker, executive director of the Death Valley Natural History Association.

GPS Ranger is now available for daily rental at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center for $19.95 for a full day and $14.95 for a half day.

For more information about Death Valley National Park and its new GPS Ranger system, check out the park's web site at www.nps.gov/deva, or call the park at 760-786-3200.