Yosemite National Park is one of the best known and most visited national parks in the USA. It is located in California, about 300 kilometers east of San Francisco, and covers an area of more than 3,000 square kilometers. The park was founded in 1890 and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984.
Yosemite is known for its impressive granite cliffs, thundering waterfalls, giant redwood forests and diverse ecosystems. The heart of the park is Yosemite Valley, an impressive glacial valley surrounded by mighty granite formations such as El Capitan and Half Dome. The park attracts millions of visitors from all over the world each year to experience its breathtaking beauty and pristine nature.
One of the main reasons for the popularity of Yosemite National Park is the variety of outdoor activities it offers its visitors. These include hiking, rock climbing, biking, whitewater rafting, and in the winter, skiing and snowboarding. The park has more than 1,200 kilometers of hiking trails, ranging from easy walks to challenging multi-day hikes. Among the most popular trails are the Mist Trail, which leads to Vernal and Nevada Falls, and the challenging Half Dome Trail, which takes climbers to the top of Half Dome.
Yosemite is also an animal lover's paradise, as the park is home to diverse wildlife, including black bears, mule deer, coyotes and numerous bird species. Other highlights include Mariposa Grove, a huge grove of ancient giant sequoias, and Wawona, a historic 19th century settlement.