Cliffs
Anyone seeking overseas adventure travel in the Yosemite National Park needs only to head for El Capitan. This 3,000 foot high wall of granite is a favourite with rock climbers as there are dozens of climbing routes to the top, none of them easy.
Half Dome is the park's best known rock sight. It looks like a hemisphere with a sheer cliff on one side. But from another vantage point, the rounded part also has sheer walls. Climbers can pull themselves along the Dome by means of metal cables attached to the rock.
Mount Lyell, near the southeast boundary of the park, is Yosemite's highest mountain. It is also home to the Lyell Glacier, the park's largest glacier. Both phenomena are named after the 19th century British geologist, Charles Lyell.
Granite mountains surround the Yosemite Valley, which is over a mile deep and has been carved out by the Merced river. The Glacier Point viewing platform, which stands at over 7,000 feet at the southern edge of the park, gives the best view over the valley.
Waterfalls
Waterfalls in Yosemite vary in strength and location throughout the year as most are fed by snowmelt. Aside from the most famous sights, numerous falls appear during the spring run-off season or after a heavy rainstorm.
The Yosemite Falls are the highest waterfalls in North America, dropping 2,400 feet and the fifth largest in the world. A seven-mile round trip along the Yosemite Falls Trail takes five hours and lets you capture the most
impressive views. This waterfall displays a moonbow, a lunar rainbow, when the light of the full moon falls through it.
The Horsetail Falls, a smaller waterfall that cascades over the sheer side of El Capitan, is an attraction for photographers and astronomists, as well as hikers, every February. During this month, the setting sun illuminates the water, giving it the appearance of molten lava falling over the granite cliffs.
The Bridal Veil Falls, whose water drop is over 600 feet, appear to fall sideways in a strong wind. Sometimes the water doesn't reach the ground and was called Bridal Veil for this reason. The Ahwahneechee Indians called the waterfall Pohono, meaning 'spirit of the puffing wind'. The mist from the falls can spread hundreds of yards and soak onlookers as they enjoy their family vacations. The Ahwaheecnee believed that people who inhaled the mist improved their chances of marriage.
Flora and fauna
Yosemite Park is home to the mountain lion, a shy creature that is at the top of the ecosystem's food chain. The lions control the deer, raccoon and squirrel populations. Black bears roam freely around the park but may be difficult to spot. Marmots, a kind of rodent, are easily spied as they enjoy sunbathing. Ravens fly around in pairs in the park while peregrine falcons have made a comeback. Noisy stellar jays enjoy stealing food from tourists.
About the Author
Hazel Green writes regularly on overseas adventure travel for a range of travel websites and blogs. She specialises in travel to the United States.