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Yosemite

General Information:

  • Location: Central Sierra Nevada, California, USA
  • Established: October 1, 1890
  • Size: Approximately 1,187 square miles (3,081 square kilometers)
  • Annual Visitors: Over 4 million (varies annually; in 2021, 3.3 million visitors were reported)

Geography & Wildlife:

  • Highest Point: Mount Lyell, 13,114 feet (3,997 meters)
  • Lowest Point: 2,127 feet (648 meters) at the Merced River
  • Major Waterfalls: Yosemite Falls (2,425 feet), Bridalveil Fall, Vernal Fall, Nevada Fall
  • Glaciers: Approximately two dozen small glaciers, with Lyell Glacier being the largest
  • Landscapes: Granite cliffs, waterfalls, giant sequoias, alpine meadows, and rivers

Wildlife:

  • Species of Mammals: Around 90
  • Bird Species: Over 260 recorded species
  • Reptiles and Amphibians: 33 species
  • Endangered Species: Includes the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep and the Yosemite toad

Climate:

  • Average Annual Precipitation: Varies by elevation, from 36 inches in Yosemite Valley to over 70 inches in the high country
  • Temperature: Summers are warm with highs in the 80s°F (27–30°C) in Yosemite Valley; winters can be cold with snow in higher elevations