YOSEMITE VALLEY

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Yosemite means ‘grizzly bear’

• 7 miles in length

• 1-2 miles in width

• Elevation almost exactly 4,000’

5-10 million yrs ago - a broad valley

Merced river meanders along

The land rises- the valley becomes a canyon5 million years ago, tilting of Sierras

The Ice Age begins, glaciers carve the valleyEl Portal glacial stage: 1 mya

40-60 milesin length

The last glacier retreats- 30,000 yrs ago

The ice age ends: Lake Yosemite

Yosemitetoday

Mt Watkins

Mirror Lake

NEVADA FALLS

YOSEMITEFALLS

HALFDOMEIS A NUNATAK

EL CAPITANCLIMBINGROUTES

Best climbing rock in the world?

YOSEMITE FALLS: WINTERYOSEMITE FALLS: WINTER

SUMMARY

• Broad-valley stage (5-10 mya)

• Canyon stage (5 mya)

• Pleistocene glaciation begins (2 mya)

• Last glacial stage (Wisconsin)

• Lake Yosemite: formed by terminal moraine

• El Capitan and Half Dome nunataks