Yosemite National Park
President Abraham Lincoln signed a bill to preserve Yosemite Valley and a grove of sequoia trees that he had never seen on June 10, 1864.
The first tourists to Yosemite Valley traveled four to five days by carriage, horse, and foot from San Francisco.
Yosemite known for beautiful waterfalls and sequoias
Yosemite National Park was established in 1890 and has 3,700,000 visitors every year.
The park is best known for its waterfalls, but also has ancient giant sequoias, vast wilderness, meadows, and valleys.
Yosemite Falls is North America’s tallest waterfall
At 2,425 feet, Yosemite Falls is the tallest waterfall in North America.
Melting snow feeds Yosemite Falls and it usually reaches its peak in late May.
Giant Staircase
The Merced River drops over 594-foot Nevada Fall and 317-foot Vernal Fall to create what is called the “Giant Staircase.”
The wide and sandy area on the river known as Sentinel Beach is a great place for a picnic. Or take a swim in the outdoor pool in Curry Village.
Things to do
Thousands of people come to Yosemite to climb the cliffs, making the park one of the world’s greatest rock-climbing destinations.
There are 12 miles of paved bicycle trails. Some lakes are open for fishing year-round. Several hiking trails offer the best way to experience the beauty of the park.
For those interested in horseback riding, guided mule rides and pack and saddle trips are available from spring to autumn. You can also rent a raft on the Merced River.
Many wild animals live in Yosemite National Park: mountain beavers, white-tailed jackrabbits, yellow-bellied marmots, tarantulas, Steller’s jays, mule deer, coyotes, and black bears.
-Sandra Merville Hart
Sources:
Flynn, Sarah Wassner. National Geographic Kids: National Parks Guide U.S.A., National Geographic Society, 2012.
McHugh, Erin. National Parks: A Kid’s Guide to America’s Parks, Monuments, and Landmarks, Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, Inc., 2012.
Palmerlee, Danny; Bendure, Glenda; Friary, Ned; Karlin, Adam; Matchar, Emily; Sainsbury, Brendan. Discover USA’s Best National Parks, Lonely Planet Publications, 2012.
“Yosemite: National Park, California,” National Park Service, 2014/12/16 http://www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm.