The Rocky Mountains are absolutely breathtaking. They consist of snow capped peaks, high alpine meadows, deep valleys, and a flora fauna. Many Euro-Americans came to the Rocky Mountains because they were trappers, traders, hunters, and woodsmen who were seeking natural resources. There are many mining and logging camps that to this day are rustic and quaint towns spread across the country side. Historically people came to the Rocky Mountains in search of adventure and opportunity. Just like people came to Yosemite to mine and hunt, people came to the rocky mountains for the economic prospects. Today many people are attracted by the majestic scenery and quality of life. The Rocky Mountains extend nearly 2,000 miles, while the Sierra Nevada Mountain range is 400 miles. The main ranges of the western and central Rocky Mountain was created by the collision of the North American Plate and the Pacific Plate. The force of the collision is called Columbia Orogeny. This first collision occurred 200 million years ago, but 35 to 55 million years ago another collision occurred. This created the front ranges and foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Erosion from water, wind, and ice created V-shaped valleys still to this day. Glaciers formed Yosemite Valley and it is also a prominent force that created many of the topographic features typical of the Mountain West, as our textbook states. 2 million years ago earth cooled and created large sheets of ice sheets reaching as far south as Rockies of New Mexico. When the earth warmed and the glacier receded it left U-shaped valleys. Yosemite Valley is located in another very prominent U.S. mountain range, the Sierra Nevada.
The Sierra Nevada spans from central valley of California and the Basin and Range Province. It runs 400 miles north to south and approx. 70 east to west. It stretches from the Susan River and Fredonyer Pass in the North to the Tehachapi Pass in the South. Very popular features of this mountain range are Lake Tahoe, Mount Whitney and of course, Yosemite. Sierra Nevada has three national parks, including the Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon National Park. The Sierra Nevada is associated with the famous California Gold Rush. The range is extremely steep, rising from 1,00 get to 10,000 feet. It has a large amount of snowfall, rain, and orographic lifting. Due to the beauty in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, the tourist potential was recognized and first protected in 1864. In 1890 congress created an Act to protect specifically Yosemite National Park.
The Sierra Nevada spans from central valley of California and the Basin and Range Province. It runs 400 miles north to south and approx. 70 east to west. It stretches from the Susan River and Fredonyer Pass in the North to the Tehachapi Pass in the South. Very popular features of this mountain range are Lake Tahoe, Mount Whitney and of course, Yosemite. Sierra Nevada has three national parks, including the Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon National Park. The Sierra Nevada is associated with the famous California Gold Rush. The range is extremely steep, rising from 1,00 get to 10,000 feet. It has a large amount of snowfall, rain, and orographic lifting. Due to the beauty in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, the tourist potential was recognized and first protected in 1864. In 1890 congress created an Act to protect specifically Yosemite National Park.
The Above video is explaining of the Sierra Nevada Mountain range (which is where Yosemite National Park is located).
The video above was a classic song by John Denver about the Rocky Mountain high and its beauty!
Info for blog: textbook and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Nevada_(U.S.)