Earth Trivia : Yosemite National Park from America’s Great Outdoors Tumblr updates

America’s Great Outdoors Tumblr updates

Cotton candy skies over Yosemite Falls. This pic of Yosemite National Park was taken in the spring when the waterfall was at its peak. Photo courtesy of Tiffany Nguyen.

Cotton candy skies over Yosemite Falls. This pic of Yosemite National Park was taken in the spring when the waterfall was at its peak. Photo courtesy of Tiffany Nguyen.

Many Yosemite National Park visitors have heard of (as well as witnessed) the famous Firefall, a cherished tradition in which a bonfire was pushed over the edge of Glacier Point, creating a fiery spectacle. But did you know there was another Firefall? In the 1920s, there were a few evenings when the Firefall was relocated to a different Yosemite landmark: Half Dome. Using pack mules, Curry Co. staff would haul gallons of used motor oil up to the summit, ignite the face of Half Dome, and “Let the fire fall!”Photo courtesy of the Yosemite Research Library.

It’s hard to beat mornings at Yosemite National Park in California. Sunrise photo of Half Dome courtesy of Jonathan Basiago.

At 2,425 feet, Yosemite Falls is one of the tallest waterfalls in the U.S. This iconic waterfall can be seen from many places around the park’s Yosemite Valley, but nothing compares to seeing the waterfall up close. Michael Bonocore took this breathtaking photo of his friend Tessa Kit from the base of Yosemite Falls at the end of May. Photo courtesy of Michael Bonocore.

Happy 151st birthday to Yosemite National Park! On this day in 1864, Yosemite was first protected with the Yosemite Grant Act of 1864, which set aside 39,000 acres of Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Big Tree Grove to the State of California. This historic legislation was the beginning of not only the California State Park System, but the national park idea we know today. Pictured here is the park’s iconic Half Dome from Glacier Point at sunset. Photo by Brandon Nimon (www.sharetheexperience.org).

$Rainbows are a fan favorite in Yosemite National Park, commonly seen along the park’s flowing waterfalls on sunny days. Halos and coronas around the sun or moon are also a typical sight. Recently, a lucky visitor was able to spot and capture this rare occurrence –cloud iridescence – over Glacier Point. This optical phenomenon is caused when sunlight diffracts off tiny ice crystals or water droplets and creates a rainbow effect. Iridescent clouds typically occur in late afternoons in hot and humid weather, so keep your eye out!$

Some places take your breath away. Yosemite Valley is one of them. This photo of Yosemite National Park was taken just after a hail storm, and if you look closely, you can see a rainbow stretching across the park’s valley. Photo by Ece Batchelder (www.sharetheexperience.org).