Yosemite National Park covers 3,074 km² (1,187 sq mi) in eastern California. It was established in 1890 as a result of the efforts of conservationist John Muir. Yosemite National Park lies in a beautiful glacier-scoured area of the Sierra Nevada and it is known for its granite cliffs, waterfalls, giant sequoia, clear lakes and glaciers. The park is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna.
It is believed that humans first settled in the area between 8,000 and 6,000 BC. European settlers first arrived in 1833.
The park's highest peak is Mount Lyell, which is 4,000 m (13,120 ft) high. One of the park's best known features is the famed Yosemite Valley, which sits at an altitude of 1,200 m (4,000 ft) and is surrounded by cliffs and pinnacles, the highest of which are 1,463 m (4,800 ft) high Half Dome and El Capitan, which rises perpendicularly 1,097 m (3,600 ft) above the valley.
Yosemite National Park also includes the world's three largest monoliths of exposed granite. There are many lakes, rivers, streams and waterfalls, the most noted of which is Yosemite Falls, the highest in North America. The falls have a drop of 739 m (2,425 ft) in two segments. The Ribbon Falls, with a drop of 491 m (1,612 ft) is also in the park.
An 87 km (54 mi) long segment of the Tuolumne River, which originates from snowmelt off mountains Dana and Lyell, is protected within the park before it crosses over into Stanislaus National Forest. There are 3 groves of giant sequoias within the park's limits. The groves include other types of trees too, as well as more than 1,000 varieties of flowering plants. In the scenic Hetch Hetchy Valley is the reservoir that supplies water to San Francisco. Another scenic place is Tunnel View.
The park is excellent for hiking and climbing. Yosemite National Park is 160 km southeast from Sacramento and 3,700 km west from Washington D.C.
The park was added to the UNESCO list of world heritage sites in 1984.
Tunnel View ©Bailey Zindel
Tunnel View ©Aniket Deole
Yosemite National Park ©Mick Haupt
Yosemite Valley ©K.C. Welch
Yosemite National Park ©Jesse Callahan
Yosemite Falls ©Kevin Andre
Half Dome ©Tom Gainor
Yosemite Falls ©Laurel Balyeat
Half Dome ©Casey Horner
El Capital ©Riccardo Oliva
Waterfall ©Nathan Dumlao
Bridge ©Leo Visions
