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Yosemite National Park (4)
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Yosemite Valley Peaks
Yosemite National Park is perhaps most known for its amazing granite monoliths which perch along the edges of the valley. One of these impressive granite features seen in the valley is the Three Brothers, seen below.
One of the Three Brothers is the rugged Eagle Peak. It is the highest point on the north rim of the valley. Mountains like Eagle Peak, which present a rough, jagged appearance, are those which were not covered and polished by the great glaciers.
The Cathedral Rocks are found directly across the valley from El Capitan. Features like this led writer Freeman Tilden to characterize Yosemite as the "greatest marvel of the continent."
The slate-gray color of the granite monoliths, such as Cathedral Rocks and their three summits (shown below), is noteworthy.
The rugged Cathedral Spires rise to an altitude 5907 feet (1900 feet above the valley floor) and 6118 feet (2100 feet above the valley floor).
Another of the granite features along the rim of the valley is North Dome, shown below lurking beyond the Merced River.
A different perspective of North Dome shows the Royal Arches formation which lies below it.
A closer view of the dome itself is shown below.
The Royal Arches show layers of rock up to 200 feet thick. North Dome is visible above the arches.
One of the most interesting places to view the valley and the Sierra range is Sentinel Dome. As with many other domes, this was never covered or scoured by ice, but rather was formed by the process of exfoliation. The top of the dome is located at an altitude of 8122 feet. The surface of the dome is pock marked with eroded basins, some of which are visible in this picture.
Sentinel Dome can be reached by a fairly easy trail of about a mile. Part of this trail can be seen below. At the end of the trail the hiker has to scramble up a last section of granite to reach the top.
There is a famous tree, a Jeffrey pine, which used to grow on the top of Sentinel Dome.
An additional formation, The Sentinels, looms over the floor of the valley.
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