There are a number of commonly asked questions about Yosemite. Everyone, it seems, want to know what exactly it’s like and how they can go. Here are some questions that are potentially to aid you and partially to pique your curiosity enough that you’ll go research Yosemite and stay there at least for a few days.
Are Yosemite and Yosemite National Park two different places?
No, Yosemite and Yosemite National Park are in the same place. The park goes by both the singular ‘Yosemite’ as well as ‘Yosemite National Park.” On a more specific level, Yosemite generally means the smaller conglomeration of towns and inhabitants, while Yosemite National Park refers to the park in its entirety.
What was the Yosemite Grant?
The Yosemite Grant was signed in 1864 by then president Abraham Lincoln as an attempt to conserve the land and save it for inclusion as a national park. It was the culmination of a small group led by7 prominent citizens that called for Yosemite’s protection.
What were Yosemite’s Mariposa and Ahwahnechee Wars?
These wars refer to a series of battles that took place between the original inhabitants of Yosemite, the Ahwahnechee, and a group of US army soldiers. Most of the indigenous inhabitants were later killed and their village was burned. They were then moved to a reservation in Fresno, California.
What does ‘Yosemite’ mean?
According to recent history, the word Yosemite was recorded by physician Lafayette Bunnell, who interviewed the Ahwahnechee chief, Tanaya. Another tribe, the Miwok, considered the Ahwahnechee extremely violent, and called them "yohhe'meti." This literally translates to ‘they are killers.’ The word stuck and it is traditionally where the term comes form today.
What is Yosemite’s climate like?
Yosemite has a mild climate most of the year, with all the rain and snow falling in the late fall and early winter months. Sometimes the snow can last into March or April. In the spring and summer, Yosemite is usually warm and inviting; temperatures can actually get quite hot. It is especially prone to wildfires in the summer because it gets extremely dry with the heat, though this is sometimes helped by mid-season thunderstorms.
How much of the park is designated wilderness protection area?
About 89% of the Yosemite Valley has been converted to highly protected wilderness area. 677,600 acres of Yosemite are all officially part of the Yosemite National Park Wilderness area. Day permits are allowed, as well as overnight, though you need extra permissions to go any further than a day into Yosemite. |
