| Yosemite National Park is located in the central Sierra | | | | and the high country; Tuolumne Meadows |
| Nevada of California and lies 150 miles east of San | | | | (summer-fall), a large subalpine meadow surrounded |
| Francisco and only a six hour drive from Los Angeles. | | | | by mountain peaks; and Hetch Hetchy, a reservoir in |
| Designated a World Heritage Site in 1984, Yosemite is | | | | a valley considered a twin of Yosemite Valley. |
| internationally recognized for its spectacular granite | | | | The geology of Yosemite is characterized by granitic |
| cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, giant sequoia groves, | | | | rocks and remnants of older rock. About 10 million |
| and biological diversity. The 750,000-acre, 1,200 | | | | years ago, the Sierra Nevada was uplifted and then |
| square-mile park contains thousands of lakes and | | | | tilted to form its relatively gentle western slopes and |
| ponds, 1600 miles of streams, 800 miles of hiking | | | | the more dramatic eastern slopes. The uplift |
| trails, and 350 miles of roads. Two federally | | | | increased the steepness of stream and river beds, |
| designated wild and scenic rivers, the Merced and | | | | resulting in formation of deep, narrow canyons. |
| Tuolumne, begin within Yosemite's borders and flow | | | | About 1 million years ago, snow and ice accumulated, |
| west into California's Central Valley. Annual park | | | | forming glaciers at the higher alpine meadows that |
| visitation exceeds 3.5 million, with most visitor use | | | | moved down the river valleys. Ice thickness in |
| concentrated in the seven square mile area of | | | | Yosemite Valley may have reached 4,000 feet during |
| Yosemite Valley. | | | | the early glacial episode. The downslope movement |
| Highlights of the park include Yosemite Valley, and its | | | | of the ice masses cut and sculpted the U-shaped |
| high cliffs and waterfalls; Wawona's history center | | | | valley that attracts so many visitors to its scenic |
| and historic hotel; the Mariposa Grove, which contains | | | | vistas today. |
| hundreds of ancient giant sequoias; Glacier Point's | | | | (This information was obtained from the National |
| (summer-fall) spectacular view of Yosemite Valley | | | | Park Service and is in the public domain. |