Yosemite National Park is one of the most iconic places to visit in the United States. The park became protected after Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Grant; “which after being approved excluded development of the territory and guaranteed its conservation” (Wikipedia 'Yosemite National Park' 2015. Web. 22 May 2015). Yosemite was formed over 10 million years ago when the Sierra Nevada rose, resulting in landforms such as Half Dome and El Capitan. Another factor in Yosemite's extreme morphology is the fact that Yosemite was believed to have been sculpted by glacier erosion. The number of tourists visiting the park increased dramatically after the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869. Today, over 3.7 million people visit the park each year. Yosemite's area is 1,168,681 square miles; "nearly 95% of which are destined for the wilderness." (Web, Wikipedia 'Yosemite National Park')Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Yosemite Wildlife: Many different species of wildlife and plants are found in Yosemite. “Twenty percent of California's 7,000 plant species are found in Yosemite, and there are more than 160 rare plant species, thanks to the park's rich and unique terrains” (Wikipedia “Yosemite National Park”). Yosemite's habitat consists primarily of: redwoods, incense cedar, Douglas fir, white fir, ponderosa pine, and sugar pine. In these highly diverse habitats wildlife species include: black bears, cougars, mountain kingsnakes, white-headed woodpeckers, spotted owls and mule deer. This list is just a condensed list and doesn't even begin to cover insects, fish, and birds (Web, Wikipedia 'Yosemite National Park') Three-Day Yosemite Itinerary: Day 1: Today is your first day in Yosemite; you go through the nostalgia-inducing tunnel and see the incredible iconic views. Decide to visit El Capitan Meadow, which offers beautiful views of the impressive mountain. Afterwards you decide to go out for lunch; a good option is "The Pizza Patio" in Curry Village, which has a pub next door and even a small souvenir shop. There is plenty of parking near Curry Village and free public transportation around the park. If you decide to take a bike ride, there's a bike shop in Curry Village3 and miles of flat, scenic trails. Another option is an easy half-mile hike to Bridal Falls1, which is a 19-minute drive from Pizza Patio2. Next you can visit the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center, which offers an overview of the park's geology, history and other information. Day 2: This is your second day in Yosemite and you decide to go out for breakfast, where do you go? The Ahwahnee Hotel is a historic landmark and offers more expensive dining throughout the day (reservations recommended). After breakfast, you decide to hike the Vernal/Nevada Falls trail4 which has a few trails of varying lengths. After the excursion you decide to visit Tuolumne Meadows5 which is about an hour and a half drive from Yosemite Valley; the trail itself is 2 miles and you will definitely enjoy it. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Day 3: This is your last day in Yosemite; you want to do something exciting, how about rafting and a short hike later. For rafting there are a few rivers that pass through Yosemite, including the Tuolumne River, Kings River and Merced; depending on the season you may need to choose accordingly, due to fluctuating water levels6. So end the day by doing, 29(5), 1365-1377.