Yosemite National Park

A national park in California, managed by the National Park Service. Designated a World Heritage Site in 1984, it is known for its granite cliffs, waterfalls, giant sequoia groves and biological diversity.

Yosemite National Park is a national park in California, managed by the National Park Service. It covers 1,187 square miles (3,070 km²) in four counties, centered in Tuolumne and Mariposa. Designated a World Heritage Site in 1984, it is known for its granite cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, giant sequoia groves, lakes, mountains, meadows, glaciers and biological diversity. Almost 95 percent of the park is designated wilderness.

About one million years ago, glaciers formed at higher elevations and moved downslope, carving the U-shaped Yosemite Valley. President Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Grant in 1864, declaring Yosemite federally preserved land, and in 1890 a movement led by John Muir moved Congress to establish the national park, which helped pave the way for the National Park System. About four million people visit the park each year.