Yosemite National Park is located in east central California. It was established on October 1, 1890. The park was established because people wanted to preserve the central Sierra-Nevada region and the natural resources that contributed to the park. Native Americans were the first residents that settled there about 7,000 years ago. It's the third oldest national park in the country.
The park is about 1,200 square miles and extends to more than 13,000 feet above sea level. Some of the main attractions are Yosemite Valley, the alpine wilderness. and the three groves of Giant Sequoias.
These are the Giant Sequoias.
Yosemite National Park has 27 different varieties of trees. The oldest and biggest are the Giant Sequoias. There are three groves of these trees. Giant Sequoias are the largest trees on Earth. They can grow to reach 250 to 300 feet tall and 35 feet wide and can live as long as 3,000 years. The oldest is about 2,700 years old and is call the Grizzly Giant.
Yosemite Valley is a canyon that was carved by glaciers. It's best known for its giant cliffs and impressive waterfalls. Also in Yosemite Valley is El Capitan which, at nearly 4,000 feet, is the largest single granite rock on Earth. Half Dome is another important feature that is 4,733 feet tall and allows a view of the entire valley.
El Capitan is the biggest single rock in the world.
This is Half Dome.
Waterfalls are what Yosemite National Park is best known for. Yosemite Falls is the highest water fall in North America. With a drop of 2, 425 feet, Yosemite Falls is the fifth tallest waterfall in the world.
Yosemite Falls
There are many things to do at Yosemite Park such as hiking, biking, rock climbing, horseback riding, birdwatching, rafting, camping, and fishing. At night, the sky is very dark and that makes a great opportunity to look at the stars. There are over 800 miles of hiking trails in the park.
About 300 to 500 black bears bears live in the park. Yosemite is also home to many other animals such as golden eagles, California bighorn sheep, great gray owls , mule deer, coyotes, squirrels, steller's jay, and peregrine falcons.
