Located in the central Sierra Nevada, Yosemite National Park is one of the most famous natural sites on Earth. Yosemite National Park embraces almost 1,200 square miles of scenic wild lands set aside in 1890 to preserve a portion of the central Sierra Nevada that stretches along California's eastern flank. The park ranges from 2,000 feet above sea level to more than 13,000 feet.

The spectacular features of Yosemite Falls, El Capitan and Half Dome are instantly recognizable as one drives through the park. The icy Merced River winds its way through the valley floor, a tranquil complement to the awesome views that bracket the mighty landscape.  Yosemite National Park is an international treasure and an endless testament to the notion that sometimes human beings can respect and preserve that which they hold most dear.

Ansel Adams, the famous photographic chronicler of the park, once said, "Yosemite Valley, to me, is always a sunrise, a glitter of green and golden wonder in an edifice of stone and space."