Yosemite: Sam

            This last National Park I will talk about, is probably the one I’m most excited about.  Though I have been all over California, I have not been to this National Park yet.  A park so magnificent, so majestic, that over 3.2 million people visit this famous 7 square mile valley each year. A park as big as Rhode Island. A park known for having hundreds of flowing water falls, cliff that tear open the sky, creatures that come in by the thousands, groves of giant trees, and endless miles of trails.  A park carved out by the power of ice known as glaciers. That park as you’ve already seen in the title is Yosemite National Park.

            Yosemite National Park was not the first National Park, but it was the park that inspired the idea.  The area gained popularity, before becoming a National Park, in the mid 19^th century.  This time period was known as the California Gold Rush.  In 1851, a group of “white” men entered the valley searching for gold.  They were attacked by a group of 200 Ahwahneechees Indians, this was known as the Mariposa War.  The park got its name from the Indian word "yohhe'meti" which translates to “ they are killers”.  After the gold rush was over and the park was established in 1916 tourism began to increase.  With the addition of all-weather roads, tourism skyrocketed.

            Yosemite offers so many activities from hiking, rock climbing, fishing, camping, biking, skiing, and so much more.  With over 800 miles of trails to hike, thousands of lakes and 1,600 miles of streams to fish, 350 miles of scenic road to drive or bike, Yosemite makes for a great family vacation or adventurous expedition.