Yosemite Falls

Yosemite Falls

Yosemite Falls from Yosemite Valley
Location Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California, U.S.
Coordinates 37°45′18″N 119°35′50″W / 37.75500°N 119.59722°W / 37.75500; -119.59722
Type Tiered
Total height 2,425 ft (739 m)
Number of drops 3
Longest drop 1,430 ft (436 m)
World height ranking 6
Upper Yosemite Fall as viewed from the trail leading to the top
The Middle Cascades are not visible from the Valley
Lower Fall as viewed from trail

Yosemite Falls is the highest waterfall in Yosemite National Park, dropping a total of 2,425 feet (739 m) from the top of the upper fall to the base of the lower fall.[1] Located in the Sierra Nevada of California, it is a major attraction in the park, especially in late spring when the water flow is at its peak.

Sections

The falls consist of three sections:

In years of little snow, the falls may actually cease flowing altogether in late summer or fall. A very small number of rock climbers have taken the opportunity to climb the normally inaccessible rock face beneath the falls, although this is an extraordinarily dangerous undertaking; a single afternoon thunderstorm could restart the falls, sweeping the climbers off the face.

Lower Yosemite Fall is easily accessible near the Yosemite Lodge in Yosemite Valley. The top of Upper Yosemite Fall may be reached via a steep, strenuous, and usually crowded 3.5 miles (5.6 km) hike beginning near Camp 4. The Upper Fall may also be reached via several routes from the Tioga Road to the north.

The Ahwahneechee Legend

The main village of the native people of Yosemite Valley, the Ahwahneechee, was located at the base of the falls.

Yosemite Falls, taken between 1873 - 1883 by Carleton E. Watkins.

The Ahwahneechee people called the waterfall "Cholock" ("the fall") and believed that the plunge pool at its base was inhabited by the spirits of several witches, called the Poloti.[2][3] An Ahwaneechee folktale describes a woman going to fetch a pail of water from the pool, and drawing it out full of snakes. Later that night, after the woman had trespassed into their territory, the spirits caused the woman's house to be sucked into the pool by a powerful wind, taking the woman and her newborn baby with it.

See also

References

  1. "Yosemite National Park Waterfalls". U.S. National Park Service. 8 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-21.
  2. Clark, Galen (1904). "Chapter One: Early History". Indians of the Yosemite Valley and Vicinity Their History, Customs and Traditions. Yosemite Valley, CA: G. Clark. OCLC 1635187.
  3. Kroeber, by A. L (1921). "Indians of Yosemite". In Ansel Franklin Hall. Handbook of Yosemite National Park. London: G. P. Putnam's sons. OCLC 70337415.

External links

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Coordinates: 37°45′18″N 119°35′50″W / 37.755018°N 119.597297°W / 37.755018; -119.597297

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