"YOSEMITE VALLEY, to me, is always a sunrise, a glitter of green and golden wonder in a vast edifice of stone and space." - Ansel Adams

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK situated in the High Sierras on the eastern boundary of California with Nevada covers 1800 sq. miles (3500 sq. kilometres) of protected mountain country. It may be approached by road by Highway 41 from Fresno which enters the park through a tunnel. A parking area at the western end of the tunnel provides access to some of the most photographed views of Yosemite. Another approach (the most direct from San Francisco) is via Oakdale and along Highway 120.

View from the western end of the Yosemite Valley (right).

Bridalveil Falls on the southern rim of the Yosemite Valley (left).

The Merced River runs through the Yosemite Valley. Dredging operations at one time provided a series of lakes along the lower valley but these are now being allowed to fill with silt carried from the upper reaches of the river and from its numerous tributaries.