YOSMITE
Yosemite National Park is a United States National Park spanning eastern portions of Tuolumne, Mariposa and Madera countiesin east central California, United States. The park covers an area of 761,268 acres (3,080.74 km2) and reaches across thewestern slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain chain. Yosemite is one of the largest and least fragmented habitat blocks in theSierra Nevada, and the park supports a diversity of plants and animals.
Yosemite has a Mediterranean climate, meaning most precipitation falls during the mild winter, and the other seasons are
nearly dry (less than 3% of precipitation falls during the long, hot summers) The National Park Service was formed in 1916, andYosemite was transferred to that agency's jurisdiction. The Yosemite Museum was founded in 1926 through the efforts of AnselFranklin Hall
SIERRA NEVADA
Sierra Nevada A mountain range of eastern California extending about 644 km (400 mi) between the Sacramento and SanJoaquin valleys and the Nevada border. Mount Whitney, 4,420.7 m (14,494 ft), is the highest elevation.
El Capitan is a 3,000-foot (910 m) vertical rock formation in Yosemite National Park, located on the north side of Yosemite Valley,near its western end. The granite monolith is one of the world's favorite challenges for rock climbers.
The formation was named "El Capitan" by the Mariposa Battalion when it explored the valley in 1851. El Capitan ("thecaptain", "the chief") was taken to be a loose Spanish translation of the local Native American name for the cliff. It is unclear ifthe Native American name referred to a specific Tribal chief, or simply meant "the chief" or "rock chief". In modern times, theformation's name is often contracted to "El Cap", especially among rock climbers
BRIDALVEIL FALLS
Bridalveil Falls is one of the most prominent waterfalls in the Yosemite Valley in California, seen yearly by millions of visitorsto Yosemite National Park. The Ahwahneechee tribe believed that Bridalveil Fall was home to a vengeful spirit named Pohonowhich guarded the entrance to the valley, and that those leaving the valley must not look directly into the waterfall lest they becursed. When the wind blows briskly, the waterfall will appear to be falling sideways. During lesser water flow, the falls often don'treach the ground. Because of this, the Native Americans called this waterfall Pohono, which means Spirit of the Puffing Wind.
They also believed that inhaling the mist of Bridalveil Fall would improve one's chances of marriage.Bridalveil Fall is 188 metres(617 ft) and flows year round. The glaciers that carved Yosemite Valley left many hanging valleys which spawned the waterfallsthat pour into the valley. All of the waterways that fed these falls carved the hanging valleys into steep cascades with the exception of Bridalveil Fall. Bridalveil still leaps into the valley from the edge of the precipice, although that edge has moved backinto an alcove from the original edge of the valley. The primary source of Bridalveil Falls is Ostrander Lake, some 16 kilometres(9.9 mi) to the south.
HALF DOME
Half Dome is a granite dome in Yosemite National Park, located in northeastern Mariposa County, California, at the easternend of Yosemite Valley — possibly Yosemite's most familiar rock formation. The granite crest rises more than 4,737 ft (1,444m) above the valley floor. Half Dome is nearly as whole as it ever was. The impression from the valley floor that this is a rounddome which has lost its northwest half is an illusion. On March 28, 2009, a large rock slide of 1,500,000 cubic feet (42,000 m3)occurred off of Awhiyah Point. The slide happened at 5:26 a.m and damaged a large area under the dome. No one was injuredbut hundreds of trees were knocked down and a portion of the Mirror Lake trail was buried. The slide registered on seismographsas a 2.5 earthquake
Half Dome was originally called "Tis-sa-ack," meaning Cleft Rock in the language of the local Native Americans.. Tis-sa-ack isthe name of a mother from a native legend. The face seen in Half Dome is supposed to be hers. Tis-sa-ack is the name of aMono Lake Paiute Indian girl in the Yosemite Native American legend The top of Half Dome is a large, flat area where climberscan relax and enjoy their accomplishment. The summit offers views of the surrounding areas, including Little Yosemite Valley andthe Valley Floor.
MERCED RIVER
The Merced River, in the central part of the U.S. state of California, is approximately 112 miles (180 km) long, flowing from theSierra Nevada into the Central Valley and the San Joaquin River, which ultimately flows to the Pacific Ocean. It is most wellknown for its swift and steep course through the southern part of Yosemite National Park, having carved out the world-famousYosemite Valley. The river's character changes dramatically once it reaches the foothills and the lowlands; it becomes a slow-moving waterway streaming through farmland
THREE BROTHERS
The Three Brothers is a rock formation, in Yosemite Valley, California, USA. It is located just east of El Capitan and consists of Eagle Peak (the uppermost "brother"), and Middle and Lower Brothers.
SENTINEL ROCK
Sentinel Rock is a granitic peak in Yosemite National Park, California, United States. It towers over Yosemite Valley, oppositefrom Yosemite Falls. Sentinel Rock lies 1.1 kilometres (0.7 mi) northwest of Sentinel Dome. Midway between El Capitan andHalf Dome, Sentinel (Rock) is guardian of Yosemite Valley's South side. The tombstone-shaped, usually dark, north face loomsforbidding over Leidig Meadow below and is home to one of Yosemite's most notorious routes: the 'Steck-Salathe.' The 'WestFace' rounds out the selection of most popular routes on Sentinel
SENTINEL DOME
Sentinel Dome is a granite dome in Yosemite National Park, United States. It lies on the south wall of Yosemite Valley, 0.8 miles(1.3 km) southwest of Glacier Point and 1.4 miles (2.3 km) northeast of Profile Cliff. The original Native American name ofSentinel Dome, in the Southern Sierra Miwok language, was "Sakkaduch". The Bunnell survey named it "South Dome", but theWhitney survey renamed it Sentinel Dome (from its likeness to a watch-tower). The view from the top offers a 360 degree view ofYosemite Valley and surroundings. One can see Half Dome, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, North Dome, Basket Dome, and muchmore.
Sentinel Dome is known for a Jeffrey Pine that grew from its peak
. The pine was photographed as early as1867 by Carleton Watkins. The tree died during the drought of 1976. The dead tree remained standing until August 2003.
YOSEMITE FALLS
Yosemite Falls is the highest measured waterfall in North America. Located in Yosemite National Park in the Sierra Nevada of California, it is a major attraction in the park, especially in late spring when the water flow is at its peak.
The total 739 metres (2,425 ft) from the top of the upper falls to the base of the lower falls qualifies Yosemite Falls as thesixth highest waterfall in the world, though with the recent discovery of Gocta Cataracts, it appears on some lists as seventh.
Upper Falls: The 436 metres (1,430 ft) plunge alone is among the twenty highest waterfalls in the world. Trails from the valleyfloor and down from other park areas outside the valley lead to both the top and base of Upper Yosemite Falls. The upper fall isformed by the swift waters of Yosemite Creek, which, after meandering through Eagle Creek Meadow, hurl themselves over theedge of a hanging valley in a spectacular and deafening show of force.
Middle Cascades: Between the two obvious main plunges there are a series of five smaller plunges collectively referred to asthe Middle Cascades. Taken together these account for a total drop of 205 metres (673 ft), more than twice the height of theLower Falls. Because of the narrow, constricted shape of the gorge in which these drops occur and the lack of public access,they are rarely noted. Most viewpoints in the valley miss them entirely. Several vantage points for the cascades are found alongthe Yosemite Falls trail. Several hikers climbing down from the trail towards the cascades have required an expensive helicopterrescue due to steep and slippery terrain and features.
Lower Falls: The final 97 metres (318 ft) drop adjacent to an accessible viewing area, provides the most-used viewing point forthe waterfalls. Yosemite Creek emerges from the base of the Lower Falls and flows into the Merced River nearby. Like manyareas of Yosemite the plunge pool at the base of the Lower Falls is surrounded by dangerous jumbles of talus made even moretreacherous by the high humidity and resulting slippery surfaces
The Ahwahneechee people of Yosemite Valley called the waterfall "Cholock" and believed that the plunge pool at its base wasinhabited by the spirits of several witches, called the Poloti. An Ahwaneechee folktale describes a woman going to fetch a pailof water from the pool, and drawing it out full of snakes. Later that night, after the woman had trespassed into their territory, thespirits caused the woman's house to be sucked into the pool by a powerful wind, taking the woman and her newborn baby withher.
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