Yosemite Never Stops Being A Source of Inspiration with its Mountains, Trees, Lakes & Waterfalls

This past September, I stumbled upon a book that opened my eyes to the natural beauties of waterfalls. Never before did I know that the Central Valley of California had so much to offer in terms of natural beauties and attractions. I was given a copy of "The Definiteve Guide to the Waterfalls of Southern and Central California," written by Chris Shaffer and published by Shafdog Publications.

We'll let 19th century British poet Robert Southey define waterfalls for us, "Shaking and quaking, pouring and roaring, flowing and going, running and stunning." The author says that nowhere in California ar ethe waterfalls more spectacular than in Yosemite Valley which is home to nine waterfalls measured at more than 1,000 feet tall. In case we want to try them out, he gives us a list: Yosemite Falls (2,245 feet), Snow Creek Falls (2,140), Sentinel Falls (1,920), Ribbon Falls (1,612), El Capitan Falls (1,400), Staircase Falls (1,300), Royal Arch Cascade (1,250), Lehamite Falls (1,180), and Widow's Tears (1,170). While I was visiting Yosemite with some friends from Oregon, I found lots of tourists from Japan, Korea, France, Germany and other countries there. Local tourism is also a big draw. On any occasions, you will run into a lot of people from the Bay area at Yosemite. The reason is that it is a quick trip beyond the floor of the Valley.

No matter how many waterfalls you have seen, you will be awed by the sheer magnitude and the beauty of these waterfalls and the large volume of water that come crashing on these boulders. Chris helps me understand falls. He states that waterfalls can be divided into at least five different types. Many are a combination. Plunge falls are the classic form, where the water drops vertically losing all or most contact with rock face. Horsetail falls, on the other hand, are characterized by their constant or near-contact with the rock. In a cascade falls, water descends over gradually sloping rocks, often in a series of steps. There are also fan falls which are wider at the base than they are at the top. Then come punchbowl falls which occur when a constricted stream is forcefully shot outward and downward into a large collectiong pool.

Waterfalls you did not know about in the Valley: Mist Falls, Kings Canyon National park; Crizzly Falls, Giant Sequoia National Monument; Racheria Falls, Sierra National Forest; Tokopah Falls, Sequoia National Park, Marble Falls, Sequoia National park; Wapama Falls, Yosemite National park; Chilnualna Falls, Yosemite National Park; Waterwheel Falls, Yosemite Ntional Park.

The Yosemite Falls wait for you. If you don't make plans to see them, others will see and talk about what is in your back yards.

Find more reviews at Podshoppingblog Travel