Yosemite National Park Is Filled With Timeless Natural Beauty

by Melody Krishnan, age 16


The naturally gorgeous Yosemite National Park area was a mystery to Westerners until 1851. Volunteers of the Mariposa Battalion uncovered it accidentally during an attempt to capture Ahwahneechee Native Americans and move them to a reservation. The name of the park, Yosemite, is a corruption of the Native American word for grizzly bear, uzumati .

Founded in 1864, Yosemite Valley became the first established state park in the United States. Twenty-six years later, the region surrounding the valley became a national park. This historical site, 1,189 square miles, is located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California.

The numerous attractions of Yosemite National Park draw nature lovers, adventurers, and athletes alike. For the tree huggers, there are ancient Sequoias, a couple thousand years old, found in Mariposa Grove. Hikers often traverse Tioga Pass, a 9,945-foot long mountain pass that connects to an arduous road going into the Inyo National Forest.

In addition to the forestry, this park is home to Yosemite Falls, the third longest waterfall in the world, with an extravagant length of 2,425 feet. No less beautiful are Bridalveil Falls and Vernal Falls.

Rock climbing is also a main attraction of Yosemite National Park because it is home to several challenging but popular mountains including Sentinel Rock, Royal Arches, Half Domes, and El Capitan. El Capitan is a granite formation that rises almost completely vertically to an overwhelming height of 3,605 feet, making it one of the largest bluffs in the world. The park has a broad range of rock climbing opportunities such as chimneys, high angles, low angles, cracks, and artificial aids.

John Muir, a Scottish environmentalist, was essential in making Yosemite National Park well known in American society. He worked tirelessly to establish a forest conservation policy in the United States that would protect the land’s beauty and wildlife.

To this day, you will find the same breath-taking views of the Yosemite National Park as those seen by scouts during the 1800’s. Yosemite National Park is full of timeless beauty that leaves visitors in awe of nature.

[Source: 100 Great Wonders of the World ]

















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