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
