7 Interesting facts about Yosemite National Park

I am enjoying writing about my pending travel stories. Yosemite National Park happens to be the first National Park I have been to in the US. Thanks to the COVID19 situation, it remains the only National Park I have been to. I have so much to write about California and I am writing it too. My Yosemite experience was mixed and I am writing an elaborate post. But I think this was needed. Explaining the beauty of the landscape is not an easy task, but I am sharing 7 facts about Yosemite National Park which I got to know while I was in the park, talking to people around. And of course, the internet helped me confirm them!

The range of elevation is pretty vast

The elevation range from 2,000 feet to 13,000 feet. The longest hike in the Yosemite National Park is the Half Dome which is approximately 4,800 feet. The Half Dome is majestic and it’s absolutely astonishing to look at one single rock, standing so tall and strong! Slow down as you go up because breathing becomes really difficult.

The Sun plays amazing tricks at the Park

The Horsetail fall reflects beautiful red and orange colours thanks to the downing sun and it looks like a stream of lava, shining like a ribbon of fire, giving it the name “Firefall”. Not just that, sunlight illuminates the granite rock formations in brilliant colours throughout the day!

Yosemite means “killer”

Yosemite means killer in the Miwok language. Miwok is the native American tribe which settled here pretty early, like 3000 years ago!

The Yosemite Fall is one of the tallest in the world

The elevation of this waterfall is around 2,450 feet. It is made up of 3 separate waterfalls and can be seen from almost all part of the national park. Not just that, there are more than 20 waterfalls here.

Let’s talk about the lakes

There are 2,000 lakes in the Yosemite National Park. And every lake is beautiful in itself. Of course, be as careful as you can be.

The park is home to more than 400 species of animal and words

And if you are lucky, you will come across wild bear and Bighorn sheep as I did. Not just that, there are more than 300 black bears living here. I read this on my way and I just prayed to come face to face to some wild animals!

A hotel with a history – Yosemite Majestic Hotel

During World War II, the United States Navy turned Ahwahnee hotel in the park into a naval hospital. In 2016, the hotel was renamed as Majestic Yosemite Hotel. If you have time, do take a tour of the hotel, it’s enchanting!

These are some basic facts which are intriguing enough to visit a place. Once the pandemic is over, do try to visit this beautiful place. The best time to visit is spring to fall.