Yosemite National Park
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Yosemite is one of the most famous parks in the USA and was established in 1890. Its valley, carved by glaciers, has been extensivelly photographed. Merced River flows along the valley, surrounded by mountains such as El Capitán and Half Dome. |
| Yosemite Valley may be the most famous area in the park, but it's worth taking Tioga Road up to Tioga Pass, which is the highest vehicle pass in California, at an altitude of 3031m. This route allows views of meadows and lakes. |  |
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A view of the valley from Glacier Point, with Half Dome rock on the center, rising over 1400m above the valley and 2700m above the sea. |
| Bridalveil is a 190m-high waterfall. It is probably more beautiful in spring, when there is more water, than in autumn as seen here. Yosemite Falls are the park's highest - and the world's 5th - plunging from a total height of 740m in three steps (the upper one alone is a 435m drop). |
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A steller's jay, one of the over 240 birds species found in the park. We didn't see any cougars nor bears, though there are grizzlies in Yosemite. The park service offers many activities besides hiking, including night lectures and slide shows. |
| Conifers are the most common trees, but there are many other species - 37 among the 1400 flowering plant species found it the park. Giant sequoias are found at Mariposa Grove, in the southern portion of the park. |  |
Yosemite National Park, by the National Park Service
Yosemite, by GORP
The Yosemite Association
A Guide to Yosemite National Park, by John Rabold
Yosemite National Park, by John William Uhler
Yosemite National Park, by Mountain Zone
Yosemite National Park, by American Park Network
Copyright © Maria Adelaide Silva
No reproduction is allowed without the author's agreement