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Yosemite National Park Yosemite Valley with dark clouds looming
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Yosemite National Park
Natural Resource Statistics
 
Two people hold binoculars to face while birding

Birders can see more than 150 regularly occurring bird species in Yosemite National Park.

If you count the length of the spectacular waterfalls to the height of the majestic mountains, Yosemite’s natural resources add up to be quite impressive to the 3.7 million annual visitors taking in the view.

 
Wildlife

Mammals: Approximately 90 species
Birds: More than 150 regularly occurring species
Amphibians: 12 species
Reptiles: 22 species
Fish: 6 native species
Federal Endangered Species: 1 (Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep)
State Endangered Species: 4 (Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep, willow flycatcher, great gray owl, and bald eagle)
Federal Threatened Species: 2 (Valley elderberry longhorn beetle, and California red-legged frog)
State Threatened Species: 2 (Sierra Nevada red fox and California wolverine)
More: Learn details about Yosemite's animals.

Flora

Flowering plants: Approximately 1,500 species
Trees: 35 species
Meadows: 36,620 acres
More: Learn about Yosemite's plants and wildflowers.




 
Rainbow crosses over powerful flow of waterfall

Christine White Loberg

Bridalveil Fall

Waterfalls

Yosemite Falls: 2,425 feet (with its three sections, it makes up the tallest waterfall in North America)

  • Upper Fall: 1,430 feet
  • Middle Cascade: 675 feet
  • Lower Fall: 320 feet

Bridalveil Fall: 620 feet
Ribbon Fall: 1,612 feet
Vernal Fall: 317 feet
Nevada Fall: 594 feet
Illilouette Fall: 370 feet
Silver Strand Fall: 1,170 feet
Sentinel Fall: 2,000 feet
Horsetail Fall: 1,000 feet
More: Plan to hike some of Yosemite's waterfalls.

Glaciers: On Mt. Maclure and Mt. Lyell
 
Gnarled tree sits on snowy mountain top

Christine White Loberg

Hikers travel to the top of Sentinel Dome to see this famous Jeffrey pine.

Elevations of Popular Sites (above sea level)

El Capitan: 7,569 feet and 3,593 feet from the base
North Dome: 7,542 feet and 3,562 feet from base
Sentinel Rock: 7,038 feet and 3,068 feet from base
Glacier Point: 7,214 feet and 3,214 feet from base
Yosemite Point: 6,936 feet and 2,970 feet from base
Half Dome: 8,842 feet and
4,733 feet from base
Sentinel Dome: 8,122 feet
Clouds Rest: 9,926 feet
Yosemite Valley: 4,000 feet
Wawona: 4,000 feet
Tuolumne Meadows: 8,575 feet
Tioga Pass: 9,945 feet
Mt. Hoffman: 10,850 feet (approximate geographic center of the park)

 
Elevations of Tallest Peaks (above sea level)

Mt. Lyell: 13,114 feet (tallest point in the park)
Mt. Dana: 13,057 feet
Kuna Peak: 13,002 feet
No. of 12,000-foot Peaks: 18 named plus several unnamed. Donahue Peak; Excelsior Mountain; Foerster Peak; Mammoth Peak; Matterhorn Peak; Mt. Conness; Mt. Electra; Mt. Florence; Mt. Maclure; Mt. Gibbs; North Peak; Parsons Peak; Rodgers Peak; Simmons Peak; Twin Peaks; Virginia Peak; White Mountain; Whorl Mountain.
How Tall is that Peak? Use the USGS Geographic Names and Information System to query heights of Yosemite's places

Climate (Yosemite Valley)
Average precipitation: 37.2 inches
Average snowfall: 29 inches
1938 record precipitation: 59 inches
1924 record low temperature: 6°F
More: Find Yosemite temperatures and precipitation details

  • General Park Statistics: View more stats including the annual budget, the number of wilderness permits issued, visitor survey responses, and other topics.
Face of a ranger
Study the Scientist
Watch a video of the park's ornithologist out in the field
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graphic of a meadow landscape
Slice of the Meadow
3% of habitat contains large proportion of Yosemite species
more...
red-and-tan arachnid on dirt
Pseudoscorpion
Newly discovered arachnid found within Yosemite's talus caves
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Half Dome
Yosemite Nature Notes: Half Dome
Watch this podcast to learn more about Half Dome
more...

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Merced River Gorge

Did You Know?
Descending from Yosemite Valley, the Merced River becomes a continuous cascade in a narrow gorge littered by massive boulders. Dropping 2,000 feet in 14 miles, canyon walls rise steeply from the river and have many seasonal waterfalls cascading down to the river.

Last Updated: November 16, 2010 at 13:11 MST