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Yosemite National Park

Yosemite Slideshow

Yosemite National Park Photo Gallery

Click on the thumbnails on the right to learn more about Yosemite National Park.

In 1864, President Abraham Lincoln signed legislation to create the Yosemite Grant, which eventually led to the creation of the U.S. national park system.

The Yosemite Grant was the first time U.S. land was ever set aside for preservation. The grant led the way to America's national park system.

Yosemite first operated as a California state park. It officially became a national park in 1890. Naturalist John Muir, famous for his photos of Yosemite, pushed for Yosemite's protection.

But national park status does not protect Yosemite from wildfires. In 2013, the Rim Fire started in the surrounding Stanislaus National Forest and burned more than 400 square miles.

The Rim Fire burned into Yosemite, damaging parts of the terrain. Now, scientists have moved in to study the impacts of the wildfire, including how the flames damaged rivers and streams.

Scientists don't just study wildfire impacts in the park. The protected space allows them to study a variety of topics, ranging from wildlife to snowfall.

Yosemite is home to more than 250 wildlife species, including mule deer. The deer are seen here in the Yosemite Valley in early November 2014, at the start of mating season.

The park's cliffs were eroded by glaciers several million years ago. El Capitan, pictured here, is popular among rock climbers.

Water still plays a role in Yosemite today. The park's famous waterfalls feed into the Merced River, which continues to erode the Yosemite Valley, occasionally causing floods in the park.

Researchers hike into Yosemite's backcountry to measure the snowpack in the Sierra Nevadas. This constant measurement gives scientists an idea of how much water California has.

Yosemite's terrain, including Sentinel Rock, provides a wide area for researchers to cover. So they turn to technology. Park wildlife managers use GPS monitors to track bears to see how they use the park.

The bears of Yosemite are not alone. Nearly four-million people visit the park each year.