Fotos

Yosemite Valley, with El Capitan on the left and Bridalveil Falls on the right, viewed from the outlook called Tunnel View. This is one of the most-photographed scenes in Yosemite National Park, for good reason. The lighting at different times of the day make this view quite varied and spectacular (take a look at some of the others on TE). 150 years ago it was virtually untouched by modern humans (until after the gold rush hit nearby), although a small number of Native Americans inhabited the area around 4,000 years ago.

Yosemite is recognized for its granite cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, and Giant Sequoia tree groves. It is huge (over 1,000 square miles, or 3,000 square kilometers), but most people just visit this main 7-mile long valley. El Capitan is a 3,593-foot vertical granite monolith rock formation, twice as high as the Rock of Gibraltar, which is famous for rock climbing. Bridalveil Falls is 620 feet high (188 m) and sure to get you wet with mist if you get close. 150 miles east of San Francisco, Yosemite National Park was named a World Heritage Site in 1984.