Y is for Yosemite

Yosemite is my favorite park in the national park system.  It is one of the most stunningly beautiful places I have ever seen in my life.

  

Yosemite National Park is located in the central Sierra Nevada of California. Yosemite is approximately 195 miles (4-5 driving hours) from San Francisco.

Half Dome as viewed from Yosemite Valley

Established in 1890, Yosemite National Park encompasses nearly 1,200 square miles, 95% of which has been designated as wilderness.  Although, Yosemite is best known for its countless waterfalls, there are so many other remarkable features found within the park's boundaries.   Visitors to the park will find deep valleys, ancient giant sequoias, lush meadows, granite cliffs, as well as abundant biological diversity.

Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls

Upper Yosemite Falls

Grizzly Giant

Fallen Tunnel Tree

Mule Deer

Half Dome at sunset as viewed from Glacier Point

Yosemite by the numbers:

4,294,381 - Park visitors in 2015

13,114 - (feet) The highest elevation in the park (Mt. Lyell)

2,425 - (feet) The height of Yosemite Falls

800 - Miles of hiking trails that are available to hikers

239 - Number of search and rescue operations in 2015

214 - Miles of paved roads within the park

76 - Human vs. bear incidents in 2015

39 - Bears hit by vehicles in 2015

30 - (dollars) The cost for a seven day entrance pass for noncommercial cars, trucks, RVs, or vans with less than fifteen passengers

30 - (feet) The basal diameter of the park’s largest giant sequoia, the Grizzly Giant

20 - Deaths within the park in 2015

Me with Yosemite Valley behind me.  El Capitan (left), Half Dome (center). Bridal Veil Falls (right)

Have you ever been to Yosemite?  If so, what was your favorite feature within the park?

This is the twenty-fifth of twenty-six alphabetized blog entries I am publishing this month as a part of the 2016 Blogging A to Z Challenge.  Many bloggers who participate in this challenge, select a theme.  My theme is - "Whatever I Think Of."  

For more information on the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge, click here.