Fantastically beautiful valley of the Sierra Nevada
According to ehuacom, Yosemite National Park is located in the US state of California. The national park in the Sierra Nevada mountains is one of the most popular and scenic national parks in the USA. More than three million visitors come to Yosemite National Park every year. The national park has a wealth of sights in store for visitors, and the views are unique.
Waterfalls “Yosemite Falls” in the national park
In 1864 President Lincoln gave the state of California the territory of Yosemite Valley with the obligation to preserve the natural beauty of the area. Yosemite National Park was founded on October 1, 1890, making it the second oldest national park in the USA after Yellowstone National Park. Its area is about 3,080 km².
World Heritage Yosemite
In 1984, Yosemite National Park was granted World Heritage status by UNESCO. Excavations and finds in the area of the national park have shown that Native Americans lived in the park area thousands of years ago. The peoples were named Paiute and Miwok.
Expulsion of the Native Americans
In the 19th century, when the first white settlers arrived, Yosemite Valley was home to the Ahwahnechee people. Around 1846 prospectors came to Yosemite Valley. At first they were greeted warmly by the Native Americans. But when the whites built mines and destroyed nature in search of gold, the mood quickly changed. There was carnage and death on both sides for years.
View of Yosemite Valley, the “Half Dome” on the top right
Only in the years 1852/53 did the US Army end the warlike actions. The original inhabitants of Yosemite Valley succumbed. This made it possible to develop and settle the valley. The clashes were called the Mariposa War. The Native Americans were taken to a reservation near Fresno.
Yosemite – great biodiversity – flora and fauna
Yosemite National Park is really something special. Huge, almost vertical granite rocks over which waterfalls tumble down. Crystal clear streams flow in the valleys. Yosemite Valley has a maximum depth of 650 meters. In addition, groves of giant sequoias.
The diversity of flora and fauna in Yosemite National Park is particularly large. In addition, the national park has diverse and very different ecosystems. Over 3,500 different plant species have been identified in the Yosemite Valley National Park area. In addition, more than 400 species of amphibians, fish, birds, reptiles and mammals live in Yosemite National Park.
Highlights of Yosemite Valley National Park
One of the most visited sights of the large national park is the Yosemite Valley with its steep cliffs and impressive waterfalls. A highlight of the park are the Yosemite Falls, the waterfalls falling steeply from the rocks.
Merced River and Half Dome in Yosemite National Park
Another highlight is the Half-Dome, a huge mountain of granite shaped like a truncated cathedral dome. The park’s highest point is Mount Lyell at 3,994 meters.
Hiking in Yosemite National Park
Hikes through Yosemite National Park are popular. You can hike to the falls in Yosemite Valley. Or hike to the Sequoia groves like the Merced Groves and Mariposa Tuolumne. Appropriate hiking equipment is of course required. Yosemite National Park has over 1,200 km of hiking trails to offer hikers. There are also an incredible 200 miles of paved roads in the park.
Entrances to Yosemite National Park
- South Entrance – Highway 41 from Fresno direction
- Arch Rock- Hwy 140, west of Merced
- Big Oak Flat – Hwy 120, west of Manteca and Modesto
- Tioga Pass – east of Lee Vining, via Hwy 395 (closed in winter)
- Hetch Hetchy entrance
Glacier Point
From Glacier Point you have a beautiful view over the area of the gigantic Yosemite Valley. Incidentally, Glacier Point is also served by the free National Park shuttle buses, as are Mariposa Grove and Tuolumne Meadow. Another beautiful and impressive valley of Yosemite National Park is the Hetch Hetchy Valley.
Sights in Yosemite Valley
- Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias
- Mirror Lake
- Yosemite Village
- Gaylor Lake
- Nevada Falls Loop
- Tuolumne Meadows
- Bridal veil case
- May Lake
- Olmstead Point
- Vernal case
- Halfdome
- Hetch Hetchy
- Glacier Point
- Sentinel Dome
- Yosemite Valley
- Tioga Pass
- Taft Point
- El Capitan
Camping in Yosemite
There are thirteen campgrounds in Yosemite National Park. In some cases, a reservation is possible, so you should inform yourself beforehand. Most campgrounds are closed during the severe winter.
Campgrounds and RV parks
- Yosemite Creek
- Bridalveil Creek
- Upper Pines
- Lower Pines
- North Pines
- camp 4
- Wawona
- Tuolumne Meadows
- Tamarack Flat
- Hodgdon Meadow
- Crane Flat
- Porcupine Flat
- white wolf
Free shuttle buses
There is a shuttle bus system in Yosemite National Park. You leave your car behind and are conveniently taken by bus from attraction to attraction. During the summer vacation season, Yosemite National Park sometimes closes due to overcrowding.
Giant Sequoia
In the Mariposa Grove area there are a particularly large number of beautiful Giant Sequoia trees. The Mariposa Grove is known for being home to countless Sequoia giants. Another highlight is the Tuolumne Meadow. This is a large alpine meadow bordered by a large number of mountain peaks.
