Why a trip to Yosemite needs to be on your summer to-do list

Why a trip to Yosemite needs to be on your summer to-do list - One of Yosemite National Park's most iconic attractions, the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias, is open again after nearly three years. Since its temporary closure in 2015, $40 million worth of restorations have gone into the park's trails, tree protection, and access to the famous California Tree Tunnel, among other improvements. Now is the perfect time to visit. Check out this gallery to find out 30 fascinating facts about one of America's most extraordinary national parks.
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The start of it all - Yosemite was officially classified as a National Park in 1890.
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A history of native lands - Before that time, it was home to the American Indian Ahwaneechee tribe for over 4,000 years, according to Soft Schools.
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A bloody war - This all changed when trappers and the California Gold Rush came to Yosemite. This conflict over territory eventually erupted into the Mariposa Indian War.
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A waterfall fit for a wedding - Yosemite's iconic Bridalveil Falls received its name because when the water is blown to the side by wind it resembles a bride's veil blowing gently in the breeze.
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A world-renowned wonder - The park was officially declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.
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A positively popular park - Roughly four million people visit Yosemite National Park every year, according to CBS SF BayArea.
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Massive falls - With a 2,425-foot drop from its peak, Yosemite Falls is the largest waterfall in North America.
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A hub for redwoods - It has been estimated that the park is home to over 500 giant sequoias, otherwise known as redwoods. These trees can live up to 3,000 years.
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A must-see rock climbing destination - From the end of World War II up until around 1970, Yosemite National Park was a modern rock climbing mecca.
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A rock climber's playground - Yosemite's legendary Camp 4 site has been a hot spot for world-renowned climbers throughout history.
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The glowing falls - If you catch Horsetail Falls on an evening in late January to mid-February, you'll see the sunset hit the waterfall in such a way that gives the illusion of flowing lava.
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Incredible biodiversity - Out of California's 7,000 plant species, nearly 20% of them can be found in Yosemite National Park, according to Soft Schools.
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An impressive peak - Rock climbers are up for quite the challenge if they want to take on the famous El Capitan rock formation, which is about 3,000 ft tall.
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A wide range of wildlife - There are over 90 different mammal species living in the park, according to Soft Schools.
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Up in the clouds - The park's elevation ranges between 2,000 and 13,000 ft, according to National Park Reservations.
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An array of ancient forestland - Yosemite has about 225,000 acres of old-growth forest left, according to Soft Schools.
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Perfect paths for exploring - There are over 800 mi of hiking trails for lovers of the outdoors to enjoy.
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Even US presidents love it - In 1903 President Roosevelt spent three nights camping in the national park.
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World-class waterfalls - The park is home to three of the top 10 tallest waterfalls in the world.
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Wild and free - Only a small portion of the national park is open to the public, while the vast majority of it remains untouched by humans.
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The Guardian of Yosemite - Explorer Glen Clark was the first to record data on the park's giant sequoias. Clark used to do this barefoot, and referred to shoes as “cruel and silly instruments of torture," according to Science Wonders.
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Flora and fauna frenzy - The national park has thousands of plant species, some of which are typically rare to the region.
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The park's real giant - Though El Capitan may get all the attention of tourists, the highest peak in the park is actually Mt. Lyell, which is 13,114 ft tall.
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Mountaintops that never rest - The mountains in Yosemite still grow roughly one foot every 1,000 years.
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Safeguarding the park - Yosemite National Park was the first area of land protected by the US federal government.
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An unlikely arts destination - Yosemite isn't all about hiking and rock climbing, you know. During the spring and summer, the park actually features several art exhibits at locations like the Ansel Adams Gallery.
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Well-deserved attention - Tourism in the national park shot up exponentially after artist Thomas Ayres painted Yosemite's landscapes and James Hutchings wrote about the park.
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Tremendous trees - “The Grizzly Giant" sequoia tree in Yosemite National Park is one of the largest trees in the world.
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Black bear bonanza - There are between 300 and 500 black bears residing in Yosemite National Park, according to Soft Schools.
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The park's protectors - In 1899, an army of African American soldiers, known as the Buffalo Soldiers, were assigned to patrol Yosemite National Park. This included protecting the park from poachers and fighting forest fires, according to Mental Floss.
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Why a trip to Yosemite needs to be on your summer to-do list

California dreaming

29/06/18 | StarsInsider

TRAVEL Yosemite national park

After nearly three years of closure from restorations, the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoia trees has reopened at last! Yosemite National Park has undergone $40 million worth of upgrades in the last few years, and now is a better time than ever to explore it. Click through the following photo gallery to learn 30 amazing facts about one of the most beautiful national parks in the United States.
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