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Yosemite National Park in California is one of the most attractive natural locations in the United States. One has only to look at the pictures taken by travelers, and you will immediately want to see it all with your own eyes. Fascinating waterfalls, sheer cliffs, majestic mountain peaks, giant sequoias, vast meadows, picturesque lakes and rivers - you cannot name all the amazing sights, there are so many of them in the park. Its area is 3081 km², it is spread on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, it is distinguished by a variety of flora and fauna.
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| Yosemite National Park California |
For tourists there is all the necessary infrastructure for recreation - cafes, shops, toilets, you can stay both in campsites and in small hotels, but you need to book accommodation in advance - the attraction is extremely popular among travelers, places are sold out very quickly. For visitors, there are many options for routes of varying degrees of difficulty. In the national park, you can find something to do at any time of the year - from active pastime to a calm and peaceful holiday, aimed at contemplating the local beauty.
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| Yosemite National Park California |
The name of the park is translated from Indian as Big grizzly bear, indeed, in addition to cute and harmless animals like squirrels and deer, you can meet bears here. In this regard, tourists are instructed in detail on how to avoid meeting these dangerous animals.
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| Yosemite National Park California |
Major attractions
Due to the large number of attractions, many take 2-3 days to get to know Yosemite National Park in California, which allows you to see the most iconic of them and master several walking routes. Trekkers who have the time to stay here even longer. However, many tourists traveling in the United States devote only a day to get to know the Yosemite National Park, but even this time is enough to visit the observation decks and take a quick look at the most popular attractions. Many of them, amazed at the beauty of nature, wish they had spent more time on Yosemite.
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| Yosemite National Park California |
Yosemite Valley
Despite the vast territory of the Yosemite National Park, most travelers focus their attention on the Yosemite Valley, because it is here that there is a high concentration of interesting places. One of them is the granite rock El Capitan, its height is 2307 meters above sea level, above the valley itself, it rises to 910 meters. Outwardly, it looks like a majestic monolith, which is clearly visible from different parts of the valley; this is one of the most popular views in tourist photographs. Experienced climbers make ascents to the summit, and base jumpers also jump from it.
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| Yosemite National Park California |
The rock is also interesting because on its eastern slope there is a waterfall "Horse Tail". They say that in February there are several days when an unusual phenomenon can be observed at the waterfall - at sunset, the rays of the sun are reflected in streams of falling water, creating a striking illusion. From the outside, it looks like streams of fiery lava flowing from a rock.
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| Yosemite National Park California |
Also in the valley is Bridlevale Falls or Bridal Veil, probably so named due to the fact that the scattering splashes of water below resemble a white plume. The streams of the waterfall break down from a height of 188 meters; this is not the tallest waterfall in the Yosemite National Park, but one of the most beautiful. The taller Snow Creek Falls can also be seen in the valley, but few can reach it due to its inaccessibility.
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| Yosemite National Park California |
Yosemite Falls
It is also located in the valley of the same name, but deserves a separate mention, as it is the highest waterfall in the Yosemite National Park, California. It consists of three waterfalls - Upper, Middle and Lower, its total height is 739 meters. Most tourists are fascinated by the flow of water at the level of the Lower Falls, but you can get to the top, which will take a lot of effort and time.
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| Yosemite National Park California |
Sequoia grove of Mariposa
Sequoias are evergreen trees, surprising in their height, the age of some growing in the grove is more than 2 thousand years. The impressive size of their buds is also striking. Another feature of these trees is that even after falling, these trees do not rot. This can be seen in a real-life example - a fallen sequoia tree, which is a local landmark. Another interesting specimen is a tree through which a tunnel was cut; all tourists tend to take a photo against the background of this tree. In addition to sequoias, you can see pine and fir trees in the grove.
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| Yosemite National Park California |
Weather
The Yosemite National Park is dominated by a Mediterranean climate with mild snowy winters and hot, relatively dry summers. The weather in different areas is different, in the valleys it is warmer, in the high areas it is colder. In the mountains, the snow cover is usually established in November, it melts in March or April.
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| Yosemite National Park California |
The Yosemite National Park is accessible all year round, however, due to weather conditions, some roads may be closed. If you want to see the waterfalls in all their glory, then it is better to come here in May and June, in autumn many of them dry up. Summer and autumn are great for hiking and cycling, and skiing in winter.
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| Yosemite National Park California |
How to get there
The most convenient way to get to Yosemite National Park is by rental car, from San Francisco to the park about 170 miles, from Los Angeles about 280 miles. You can pick up a car, for example, using the Rentalcars service.