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