Yosemite National Park
Is a United States National Park spanning eastern portions of Tuolumne, Mariposa, and Madera counties in the central eastern portion of the U.S state of California. The park, which is managed by the National Park Service, covers an area of 761.268 acres (3.080.74 km²) and reaches across the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain chain.
 |
| The view of Yosemite Valley from Tunnel View in Yosemite National Park |
History of Yosemite
Ahwahneechee and the Mariposa Wars
As revealed by archeological finds, the Yosemite Valley has been inhabited for nearly 3000 years. The paiute (refers to three closely related groups of indigenous peoples of the Great Basin: northern Paiute, owens Valley Paiute and southern Paiute) and Sierra Miwok peoples lived in the area long before the first explanations by American settlers into the region. A band of Paiute called the Ahwahneechee (Are a Native American people who traditionally lived in the Yosemite Valley) were living in the Yosemite Valley when the fist known group of European Americans entered it.
The California Gold Rush in the mid-19th century dramatically increased travel by European-Americans in the area, causing competition for resources between the regional Paiute and Miwok and the miner and hangers on. In 1851 as part of the Mariposa Wars intended to suppress Native American resistance, United States Army Major Jim Savage led the Mariposa Battalion into the west end of Yosemite Valley. He was pursuing forces of around 200 Ahwahneechee led by Chief Tenaya.
Accounts from this battalion were the first well-documented reports of ethnic Europeans entering Yosemite Valley. Attached to Savage´s unit was Dr. Lafayette Bunnel, the company physician, who later wrote about his awestruck impressions of the valley in "The discovery of the Yosemite". Bunnell is credited with naming Yosemite Valley, based on his interviews with Chief Tenaya. Bunnell wrote that Chief Tenaya was the founder of the Pai-Ute Colony of Ah-wah-nee.
The Miwok, a neighboring tribe, and most white settlers considered the Ahwahneechee to be especially violent because of their frequent territorial disputes. The Miwok term for the Pai-Ute band was Yohhe´meti, meaning "they are killers". Correspondence and articles written by members of the battalion helped to popularize the natural wonders of the Yosemite Valley and the surrounding area.
Chief Tenaya and his Ahwahneechee were eventually captured and their village burned; they were removed to a reservation near Fresno, California. The chief and some others were later allowed to return to Yosemite Valley. In the spring of 1852 they attacked a group of eight gold miners, and then moved east to flee law enforcement.
Near Mono Lake, they took refuge with the nearby Mono tribe of Paiute. They stole horses from their hosts and moved away, but the Mono Paiutes tracked down and killed many of the Ahwahneechee, including Chief Tenaya. The Mono Paiute took the survivors as captive back to Mono Lake and absorbed them into the Mono Lake Paiute tribe.
A reconstructed "indian Village of Ahwahnee" has been erected behind the Yosemite Museum, located next to the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center.
 |
| Native americans in Yosemite National Park enjoying view, image generated by Playground |
 |
| Chief Tenaya, Yosemite Valley. |
 |
| Theodore Roosevelt camping in Yosemite. |
 |
| The Miwok tribe. Fisherman. |
 |
| Ahwahneechee people. |
 |
| Indian Village of Ahwahnee |
First tourists
In 1855, entrepreneur James Manson Hutchings, artist Thomas Ayres and two others were the first to tour the area. Hutchings and Ayres were responsible for much of the earliest publicity about Yosemite, writing articles and special magazine issues about the valley.
 |
The first
picture made in Yosemite by Thomas A. Ayres, 1855
|
Ayres style in art was highly detailed with exaggerated angularity. His works and written accounts were distributed nationally, and an art exhibition of his drawings was held in New York City. Hutchings publicity efforts between 1855 and 1860 led to an increase in tourism to Yosemite.
Wawona was an Indian encampment in what is now the southwestern part of the park. Settler Galen Clark discovered the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoia in Wawona in 1857. He had simple lodgings built, and roads to the area. In 1879 the Wawona Hotel was built to serve tourists visiting Mariposa Grove. As tourism increased, so did the number of trails and hotels developed by people intending to build on the trade.
 |
| James Mason Hutchings and tourist. |
 |
| Wawona Tree, Photo by Robert J. Boser |
The Wawona Tree, also known as the Tunnel Tree, was a famous giant sequoia that stood in the Mariposa Grove. It was 227 ft (69 m) tall, and was 90 ft (27 m) in circumference. When a carriage-wide tunnel was cut through the tree in 1881, it became even more popular as a tourist photo attraction. Everything from horse-drawn carriages in the late 19th century, to automobiles in the first part of the 20th century, traveled the road which passed through that tree. The Wawona Tree fell in 1969 under a heavy load of snow. It was estimated to have been 2,300 years old.
Concession in Yosemite
The firts concession was established in 1884 when John Degnan and his wife established a bakery and store. In 1916, the National Park Service granted a 20 year concession to the Desmond Park Service Company. It bought out or built hotels, stores, camps, a dairy, a garage, and other park services. Desmond changed its name to the Yosemite National Park Company in December 1917 and was reorganized in 1920.
The Curry Company had been started in 1899 by David and Jennie Curry to provide concessions in the park. They also founded Camp Curry, now known as Curry Village.
The Curry company and its rival, the Yosemite National Park Company were forced to merge in 1925 to from the Yosemite Park and Curry Company. The company built the Ahwahnee Hotel in 1927
Yosemite Grant
A prominent citizens including Galen Clark and Senator John Conness advocated for protection of the area. A park bill was prepared with the assistance of the General Land Office in the Interior Department. The bill passed both houses of the 38th United States Congress, and was signed by President Abraham Lincoln on June 30, 1864, creating the Yosemite Grant. This is the first instance of park land being set aside specifically for preservation and public use by action of the U.S. federal government, and set a precedent for the 1872 creation of Yellowstone as the first National Park.
 |
| Yosemite Grant Act page one |
Popular features of Yosemite National Park
Yosemite Valley represents only one percent of the park area, but this is where most visitors arrive and stay. The Tunnel View is the first view of the Valley for many visitors and is extensively photographed. El Capitan, a prominent granite cliff that looms over Yosemite Valley, is one of the most popular rock climbing destinations in the world because of its diverse range of climbing routes in addition to its year-round accessibility.
 |
| Yosemite, El Capitan, Mountain, Rock Climbing. |
Granite domes such as Sentinel Dome and Half Dome rise 3,000 and 4,800 ft (910 and 1,460 m), respectively, above the valley floor.
The high country of Yosemite contains beautiful areas such as Tuolumme Meadows, Dana Meadows, the Clark Range, the Cathedral Range, and the Kuna Crest. The Sierra crest and the Pacific Crest Trail run through Yosemite, with peaks of red metamorphic rock, such as Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs and granite peaks, such as Mount Conness. Mount Lyell is the highest point in the park, standing at 13,120 ft (3,998.98 m). The Lyell Glacier is the largest glacier in Yosemite National Park and is one of the few remaining in the Sierra Nevada today.
 |
| Mount Lyell with the Lyell Glacier |
The park has three groves of ancient Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) trees; The mariposa Grove (200 trees), the Tuolumne Grove (25 trees), and the Merced Grove (20 trees). This species grows larger in volume than any other and is one of the tallest and longest lived.
Activities for visitors in Yosemite National Park
Yosemite valley is open year-round, but much of the remaining park is closed in late autumn because of snow and re-opens in mid to late spring. Open-air tours around Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequioias are available.
Visitors can learn about the natural and cultural history of Yosemite Valley at a number of facilities in the valley: the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center, the adjoining Yosemite Museum, and the Nature Center at Happy Isles.
Hiking in Yosemite
Over 800 miles (1300 km) of trail are available to hikers anything from the easy stroll, to the grueling hikes up several park mountains, to multiple day backpack trips.
The park can be divided into 5 sections for the day-user Yosemite Valley, Wawona-Mariposa Grove-Glacier Point, Tuolumne Meadows, Hetch Hetchy and Crane Flat-White Wolf. Park Rangers encourage visitors to experience portions of the park in addition to Yosemite Valley.
Rock climbing
It´s one of the main activities in Yosemite, especially during the months that it does not snow. Beginner classes are offered.
 |
| Climbing In Yosemite Valley |
Backpacking Trips:
between late spring and early fall, much of the park is enabled for backpacking trips of several days. The activities include overnight stays require a permit and most require storage sites have bear-proof food.
 |
| Backpacking in Yosemite |
Bicycle tours
Yosemite Valley is more than 24 miles of bike trails. According to the regulations of the park, bicycles are permitted only on paved areas. The practice of mountain biking is not permitted within the park.
 |
| Mountain biking in Yosemite |
Swimming and Rafting
Usually midsummer, the Merced River in Yosemite Valley is warn enough and deep enough to go rafting. There are also some swimming pools with hot water.
 |
| Merced river rafting |
Other activities are: Horseback riding, Ski, walk in the snow, ice skating and others.
For more information about Yosemite National Park visit:
No comments:
Post a Comment