Tourism to the area now known as Yosemite National Park began in
the 1860s, after the California Gold Rush had brought more people
to the area who then went away and promoted its beauty. To protect
the treatment of the area, the government declared it a National
Park in October 1890. The park now encloses an incredible 761,268
acres (308,074 hectares) of beautiful rock formations, dramatic
waterfalls and lush greenery. It is particularly celebrated for its
The park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984, and
now it attracts approximately 3.7 million visitors every year.
Among the park's highlights is the Half Dome at the eastern end of
Yosemite Valley, which peaks at 4,000 feet (1,219 metres) above the
valley floor. Another popular attraction is El Capitan, a 3,000
feet (914 metre) vertical rock formation also in Yosemite Valley.
It is very popular with rock climbers for its unusual shape;
however it is also appreciated by those who like to keep their feet
firmly on the ground!