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About this photograph

Creator
Margery H. Freeman
Date created
February 1977
Location
Yosemite National Park, California
License
This photograph copyright ©1977. All Rights Reserved

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The sunlit Half Dome and its reflection, Yosemite National Park, CA

Size: 687×1024

The northwest face of Half Dome reflected in a still lake in Yosemite National Park, California. The dome is lit pink and mauve by low, late day light. Half Dome is one of the park’s most familiar sights, and is featured with John Muir and the California Condor on the 2005 California State quarter. Hikers can take an 8.5 mile route to the summit of the dome, which ends in a pair of braided cable handholds which curve up the rock face at the final, steepest ascent of the trail. Adventurous rock climbers can take a route straight up the vertical northwest face of the dome.

Yosemite National Park was one of the earliest national parks. Formed in 1890, it was preceded only by Yellowstone and Sequoia National Parks. Its creation was advocated by naturalists such as John Muir and Galen Clark, as well as many other influential figures. Today, it protects and preserves a broad variety of flora, fauna, geography, and Native American heritage. It is famous for its waterfalls, but visitors can also enjoy lush meadows, craggy rock ridges, and mammoth sequoias. 95 percent of the park’s 747,956 acres are designated wilderness.