Yosemite National Park attracts approximately 4.5 million visitors annually, securing its position as the fifth most popular National Park, following Great Smoky Mountains, Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountain, and Zion.
While the Yosemite Valley stretches only 7 miles, the entire park spans an impressive 1,187 square miles.
Yosemite boasts an extensive network of 214 miles of roads and a staggering 800 miles of hiking trails, with the backcountry encompassing a vast 94% of the park's area.
The moniker "Yosemite" finds its roots in the Miwok term "ho'hem-itch" which was employed by the Native Americans dwelling in the area. They affectionately named the valley "Awooni" (later transformed into "Awhanee"), signifying "The Place of the Big Mouth" or Gaping Mouth Place.
Evidence suggests that Native American habitation in Yosemite dates back a remarkable 3,400 years, with traces of human presence recorded as early as 1,400 BC.
Yosemite Falls, standing tall at 2,425 feet, holds the title of North America's tallest waterfall and is one of only four on the continent to exceed 1,000 feet in height.
It ranks as the longest and highest continuous mountain range in the US, covering approximately 470 miles and making up approximately 20% of California's land area. Yosemite's highest peaks reach an impressive height of 13,000 feet.