| Yosemite National Park, national park established in 1890, original lands granted by the United States Congress to the state of California in 1864. Located in east central California in the Sierra Nevada range, Yosemite is famous for its spectacular scenery, the Yosemite Valley, and the Mariposa Grove of sequoia trees. II HISTORY Millions of years ago the crust of the earth rose up and created the Sierra Nevada Range and the Yosemite Valley. The Merced River carved the valley into a deep V-shape. During the Ice Age, glaciers widened and deepened the valley until it became U-shaped. Glaciers also created hanging valleys out of the tributaries of the Merced River, and spectacular waterfalls descend from these valleys. The last glaciers of the Ice Age, which receded about 10,000 years ago, left a dam of broken rock that led to the formation of a lake. Eventually, silt which washed down from mountain streams filled the lake and transformed it into a broad valley. Prior to the 19th century, the primary residents of this area of the Sierra Nevada were Native American Miwok people. During the 1830s, explorers led by Captain Joseph R. Walker may have entered the Yosemite area. Miners began exploring the valley in 1849. In 1851 a volunteer militia of miners battled the Miwok. Tourists first came to Yosemite during the mid-1850s and publicized the valley�s beauty. Public interest in preserving Yosemite in its natural state increased. In 1864 Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of sequoias were granted to the state of California by President Abraham Lincoln. In 1890, largely through the efforts of American naturalist John Muir, Yosemite became a national park. Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove, which were not included in the original national park, were given back to the federal government in 1906 and added to Yosemite National Park. III YOSEMITE VALLEY Yosemite Valley is located in the southwestern part of the park. It is about 11 km ( about 7 m) long and bordered by sheer granite cliffs rising about 1200 m (about 4000 ft) above the valley floor. Among its many striking features are El Capitan, a large granite monolith 1095 m (3593 ft) high on the west side of the valley that is popular with rock climbers, and Half Dome, a distinctive 1443-m (4733-ft) rock mass cut in two by natural erosion. Mirror Lake is located at the base of Half Dome. Glacier Point, a cliff 980 m (3214 ft) high and about 50 km (about 30 mi) from Yosemite Valley, provides spectacular views of the entire valley. Tributaries of the Merced River cascade over the cliffs surrounding the valley and form some of the world�s highest and most beautiful waterfalls. Yosemite Falls, which plunges 739 m (2425 ft) from Yosemite Creek, is the tallest waterfall in North America. It has three sections: Upper Yosemite Fall, with a drop of 436 m (1430 ft); a series of leaping cascades falling another 206 m (675 ft); and Lower Yosemite Fall, which drops 98 m (320 ft). Other celebrated cataracts are Ribbon Fall, with an uninterrupted drop of 491 m (1612 ft); Bridalveil Fall, which is 189 m (620 ft) high and ends in a delicate misty spray; and 97-m (317-ft) Vernal Fall, which is noted for the rainbow of hues seen in its mists. IV SEQUOIA GROVES Yosemite National Park features three groves of giant sequoias. The Mariposa Grove, located south of Yosemite Valley, near the southern boundary of the park, is the largest and most popular of the groves. It contains about 500 mature trees, including the oldest tree in the grove, the Grizzly Giant, which is more than 2700 years old. At 64 m (209 ft) tall, it is one of the largest sequoias in the world. Also in the grove is the Wawona Tree, which was renowned for the tunnel and roadway cut through it in the early 1880s. In 1969 the Wawona Tree fell under the weight of record snowfalls. The other two, much smaller, groves are Tuolumne Grove, which is located on the park�s western border, and Merced Grove, just south of Tuolumne Grove. V OTHER FEATURES The Tioga Pass Road, a rebuilt mining road that was originally constructed in the 1880s, connects the western and eastern portions of the park. The road crosses Tioga Pass, the highest mountain pass in California, at 3031 m (9945 ft). The eastern part of the park features high mountain wilderness. The highest point in the park is Mount Lyell, which is 3997 m (13,114 ft) high. A few miles north of Mount Lyell is Tuolumne Meadows, a broad, flat grassland of abundant summer wildflowers that is a popular starting point for hikes. The Tuolumne River flows through the meadows and creates Waterwheel Falls, a cascade of water forced high in the air by the rocky streambed. The Tuolumne River flows westward through the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne before entering the Hetch Hetchy Valley. A reservoir owned by the city of San Francisco has partly filled Hetch Hetchy. Yosemite supports a great diversity of vegetation and wildlife. In addition to the groves of giant sequoias, there are stands of sugar pine, mountain hemlock, fir, maple, oak, and Pacific dogwood trees. Approximately 1400 varieties of flowering plants and more than 35 species of trees are found in the park. Animal life includes about 80 species of mammals, of which bear and deer are the most common, and some 240 species of birds. The Indian Cultural Museum, located at the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center, depicts the history of the Miwok and Paiute Native Americans who once lived in the valley. The Pioneer Yosemite History Center and its historic buildings are located in the community of Wawona on the park�s southern border, not far from the Mariposa Grove. Wawona was once the site of a Native American camp and now includes the historic Wawona Hotel, built in 1879. Yosemite was designated a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 1984. Administered by the National Park Service. Area, 302,687 hectares (747,956 acres). Yosemite National Park, national park established in 1890, original lands granted by the United States Congress to the state of California in 1864. Located in east central California in the Sierra Nevada range, Yosemite is famous for its spectacular scenery, the Yosemite Valley, and the Mariposa Grove of sequoia trees. II HISTORY Millions of years ago the crust of the earth rose up and created the Sierra Nevada Range and the Yosemite Valley. The Merced River carved the valley into a deep V-shape. During the Ice Age, glaciers widened and deepened the valley until it became U-shaped. Glaciers also created hanging valleys out of the tributaries of the Merced River, and spectacular waterfalls descend from these valleys. The last glaciers of the Ice Age, which receded about 10,000 years ago, left a dam of broken rock that led to the formation of a lake. Eventually, silt which washed down from mountain streams filled the lake and transformed it into a broad valley. Prior to the 19th century, the primary residents of this area of the Sierra Nevada were Native American Miwok people. During the 1830s, explorers led by Captain Joseph R. Walker may have entered the Yosemite area. Miners began exploring the valley in 1849. In 1851 a volunteer militia of miners battled the Miwok. Tourists first came to Yosemite during the mid-1850s and publicized the valley�s beauty. Public interest in preserving Yosemite in its natural state increased. In 1864 Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of sequoias were granted to the state of California by President Abraham Lincoln. In 1890, largely through the efforts of American naturalist John Muir, Yosemite became a national park. Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove, which were not included in the original national park, were given back to the federal government in 1906 and added to Yosemite National Park. III YOSEMITE VALLEY Yosemite Valley is located in the southwestern part of the park. It is about 11 km ( about 7 m) long and bordered by sheer granite cliffs rising about 1200 m (about 4000 ft) above the valley floor. Among its many striking features are El Capitan, a large granite monolith 1095 m (3593 ft) high on the west side of the valley that is popular with rock climbers, and Half Dome, a distinctive 1443-m (4733-ft) rock mass cut in two by natural erosion. Mirror Lake is located at the base of Half Dome. Glacier Point, a cliff 980 m (3214 ft) high and about 50 km (about 30 mi) from Yosemite Valley, provides spectacular views of the entire valley. Tributaries of the Merced River cascade over the cliffs surrounding the valley and form some of the world�s highest and most beautiful waterfalls. Yosemite Falls, which plunges 739 m (2425 ft) from Yosemite Creek, is the tallest waterfall in North America. It has three sections: Upper Yosemite Fall, with a drop of 436 m (1430 ft); a series of leaping cascades falling another 206 m (675 ft); and Lower Yosemite Fall, which drops 98 m (320 ft). Other celebrated cataracts are Ribbon Fall, with an uninterrupted drop of 491 m (1612 ft); Bridalveil Fall, which is 189 m (620 ft) high and ends in a delicate misty spray; and 97-m (317-ft) Vernal Fall, which is noted for the rainbow of hues seen in its mists. IV SEQUOIA GROVES Yosemite National Park features three groves of giant sequoias. The Mariposa Grove, located south of Yosemite Valley, near the southern boundary of the park, is the largest and most popular of the groves. It contains about 500 mature trees, including the oldest tree in the grove, the Grizzly Giant, which is more than 2700 years old. At 64 m (209 ft) tall, it is one of the largest sequoias in the world. Also in the grove is the Wawona Tree, which was renowned for the tunnel and roadway cut through it in the early 1880s. In 1969 the Wawona Tree fell under the weight of record snowfalls. The other two, much smaller, groves are Tuolumne Grove, which is located on the park�s western border, and Merced Grove, just south of Tuolumne Grove. V OTHER FEATURES The Tioga Pass Road, a rebuilt mining road that was originally constructed in the 1880s, connects the western and eastern portions of the park. The road crosses Tioga Pass, the highest mountain pass in California, at 3031 m (9945 ft). The eastern part of the park features high mountain wilderness. The highest point in the park is Mount Lyell, which is 3997 m (13,114 ft) high. A few miles north of Mount Lyell is Tuolumne Meadows, a broad, flat grassland of abundant summer wildflowers that is a popular starting point for hikes. The Tuolumne River flows through the meadows and creates Waterwheel Falls, a cascade of water forced high in the air by the rocky streambed. The Tuolumne River flows westward through the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne before entering the Hetch Hetchy Valley. A reservoir owned by the city of San Francisco has partly filled Hetch Hetchy. Yosemite supports a great diversity of vegetation and wildlife. In addition to the groves of giant sequoias, there are stands of sugar pine, mountain hemlock, fir, maple, oak, and Pacific dogwood trees. Approximately 1400 varieties of flowering plants and more than 35 species of trees are found in the park. Animal life includes about 80 species of mammals, of which bear and deer are the most common, and some 240 species of birds. The Indian Cultural Museum, located at the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center, depicts the history of the Miwok and Paiute Native Americans who once lived in the valley. The Pioneer Yosemite History Center and its historic buildings are located in the community of Wawona on the park�s southern border, not far from the Mariposa Grove. Wawona was once the site of a Native American camp and now includes the historic Wawona Hotel, built in 1879. Yosemite was designated a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 1984. Administered by the National Park Service. Area, 302,687 hectares (747,956 acres). |