Yosemite

One day in 1851, some soldiers were chas­ing some Native Americans in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. Suddenly the soldiers came to the entrance to a wide, beautiful valley. They were probably the first European settlers to see Yosemite. The sides of the U-shaped valley are tall cliffs of grey rock. The biggest rocks, such as Cathedral Rock, El Capitan, Half Dome, and the Three Sisters, are named for their unusual shapes. They were made millions of years ago by a large ice sheet, or glacier. The powerful moving river of ice cut the wide valley out of the hard rock.

Today, the peaceful Merced River runs through the valley and tall redwood trees grow there. Deer, brown bears, and many other wild animals live there. Waterfalls drop down into the valley from the mountains above. Yosemite Falls is the highest water-fall in North America. In the high country, there are grassy meadows and wild flowers. In 1868, a man from San Francisco visit­ed Yosemite. His name was John Muir, and he fell in love with Yosemite's wild beauty. He returned again and again to study na­ture and to enjoy the clear mountain air. Soon scientists and artists visited there, too. They wrote about Yosemite and painted pictures. Travelers from the cities began to spend vacations there.

John Muir wanted to save Yosemite for the future. He hoped that some day a mil­lion people would be able to see its natural wonders. He didn't want people to cut down the forests or build factories there. He was very happy when Yosemite became a na­tional park in 1890.

Now, about three million people come to Yosemite every year. John Muir's dream for Yosemite has come true, but it has come true in a way that he surely never expected. During the busiest season, Yosemite Valley is like a small outdoor city. The air gets smoky and people leave empty cans, bot­tles, and other garbage. Hikers hurt the plants and even rocks. "God himself seems to be doing his best here," wrote John Muir about his favorite place. People must try to do their best, too, to be sure that our grandchildren may also enjoy the natural wonders of Yosemite.

Exercises.

I. How much did you understand?

1. Are these statements true or false?

1. The biggest rocks are named for their unusual shapes.

2. The rocks were made some ten years ago by a large ice sheet, or glacier.

3. Tall redwood trees grow along the Merced River.

4. Waterfalls drop down into the valley from the mountains above.

e) It snows heavily in winter in Yosemite. f) John Muir's dream for Yosemite hasn't come true.

2. Can you answer these questions?

1. What is Yosemite? What is the shape of the valley?

2. What are the sides of the valley?

3. What river runs through the valley now?

4. What animals live there?

5. What waterfalls are the highest in North America?

6. Who fell in love with Yosemite's wild beauty in 1868?

7. Who visited Yosemite?

h) What did John Muir want to do for the future of Yosemite?

i) What is Yosemite Valley like during the busiest season?

j) Hikers take care of the environment at Yosemite, don't they?

II. Speak on:

• Yosemite Valley;

• John Muir and his dreams;

• Yosemite Valley nowadays.

3. Imagine you've met a person who visited Yosemite during the busiest season.

Interview him on Yosemite Valley and find out if he is sure that our grandchildren may also enjoy the natural wonders of Yosemite.