Yosemite National Park
Yosemite Valley from Wawona Tunnel Overlook (see mile 8.1)
photo courtesy of Roadside Geology of Yosemite Valley
Yosemite National Park embraces a vast tract of scenic wildlands set aside in
1890 to preserve a portion of the Sierra Nevada mountains that stretches
along California's eastern flank. The park ranges from 2,000 feet above sea
level to more than 13,000 feet and offers three major features:
The 200 miles of roads give access to all of these features either by car or by
free shuttle bus in some areas. To get to know the real Yosemite, however, you
must leave your car and take a few steps on a trail. You don't have to walk far
to discover the grandeur that can be found here and the values this special
place offers. Millions of people have come to Yosemite and left refreshed and
relaxed and perhaps a bit more knowledgeable about what they want out of life.
See what you can find.
The story of Yosemite began about 500 million years ago when the Sierra Nevada region lay beneath an ancient sea. Thick layers of sediment lay on the sea bed, which eventually was folded and twisted and thrust above sea level. Simultaneously molten rock welled up from deep within the earth and cooled slowly beneath the layers of sediment to form granite. Erosion gradually wore away almost all the overlying rock and exposed the granite. And even as uplifts continued to form the Sierra, water and then glaciers went to work to carve the face of Yosemite. Weathering and erosion continue to shape it today. source = Geology Fieldnotes: Yosemite National Park
Other Sources
Yosemite National Park -- Geology
Geology Overview, Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park Panorama