The Yosemite Valley is a glacial valley situated in Yosemite National Park in the western Sierra Nevada mountains of Central California.
The valley is 7.5 miles long, 3,000 to 3,500 feet deep, and surrounded by high granite summits such as Half Dome and El Capitan. It is densely forested with pines.
A multitude of streams and waterfalls flow into the valley, including Tenaya, Illilouette, Yosemite, and Bridalveil Creeks.
Yosemite Falls is the highest waterfall in North America. It's a big attraction, especially in the spring when the water flow is at its summit.
Yosemite National Park's centerpiece is the renowned valley for its natural environment.
The valley is the main attraction in the park. A bustling hub of activity during the tourist season in the summer months, the valley is a popular destination for visitors.
The vast majority of visitors enter the valley from roads to the west and pass through the Tunnel View entrance.
This is where most visitors arrive and stay, even though Yosemite Valley only represents one percent of the park area.