Geology-Of-Yosemite

Geology-Of-Yosemite National Park

The Geology-Of-Yosemite National Park is most definately its granite rocks! 500 million years ago, this area was under the sea. The entire Sierra Nevada mountain range was lifted up out of the deep oceans when the Pacific Plate slid under the North American plate. Heat and pressure deep within the earth caused the Pacific plate to melt into magma. The magma cooled and what rose above the seas surface was a huge block of granite rock. About a million years ago the area was covered with snow and ice. This ice became know as the ice age. Ice was 4,000 feet thick! As the ice melted, it cut into the granite and huge glaciers were born.

Now the Sierra Nevada mountain range is shaped by domes, slopes and canyons. As the snow melts, lakes are filled with water. The park has approximately 3,200 lakes, 2 reservoirs and 1,700 miles of rivers and streams! The water spills over the edges of this incrediable mountain range. Yosemite is known for its high concentration of waterfalls in a small area. People travel from around the world to see the spectacular waterfalls. They are at their greatest peak during the months of April, May and June.

The tallest waterfall in all of North America is Yosemite-Falls. It is 2,425 feet tall. During the snow melting season (April, May and June), Yosemite National Park is home to hundreds of waterfalls that last for a few days to a few weeks at a time.

Here is an interesting fact: Yosemite has served and continues to serve as a workshop and training school for map makers, geologists, engineers and conservationalists. Yosemite is the perfect place to apply lessons learned for these kind of occupations!

Learn About Glacier-Point!

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