Images

In this image, the west face of El Capitan may be seen from Tunnel View. El Capitan is a granite monolith that rises about 3,000 ft (900 m) from the valley floor and is one of Yosemite National Park's most famous landmarks.

This tree is known as the Fallen Monarch Tree. It fell roughly 300 years ago. Because of the high level of tannins in their bark, giant sequoias are resistant to decay.

The USGS streamgage on the Merced River located at Pohono Bridge within Yosemite National Park. It measures the daily discharge of water in cubic feet per second. Data from the streamgage may be accessed online.

In this image, the tunnel through the California Tunnel Tree may be seen. The tunnel was cut through the giant sequoia tree in 1895 to allow coaches, and eventually cars, to drive through the tree as part of a marketing stunt. The California Tunnel Tree is the only living giant sequoia with a tunnel cut through it. 

A giant sequoia tree within the Mariposa Grove of Big Trees in Yosemite National Park. Giant sequoias are the world's largest single trees by volume.

A single giant sequoia pinecone rests in the bark of its parent. A large sequoia tree can have several thousand pinecones at a time. Although giant sequoia trees are among the largest trees in the world, their pinecones are comparatively small, usually only 2 inches or so.

In this image, the Merced River can be seen just upstream of Happy Isles and the USGS Benchmark Streamgage in Yosemite National Park. The Merced River is a 145 mile (233 km) long tributary of the San Joaquin River. It drains a large section of the Sierra Nevadas, including Yosemite Valley.

In this image, the former USGS Hydrologic Benchmark Streamgage on the Merced River in Yosemite Valley can be seen. Hydrologic Benchmark streamgages are those at which no human development exists upstream of the streamgage.

In this image, Basket Dome can be seen. Basket Dome is a granite dome in Yosemite Valley within Yosemite National Park, located opposite Half Dome and adjacent to North Dome. It is part of the Sierra Nevada batholith.

In this image, Illilouettea Falls, a tributary of the Merced River can be seen just upstream of Happy Isles and the USGS Benchmark Streamgage in Yosemite National Park. The Merced River is a 145 mile (233 km) long tributary of the San Joaquin River. It drains a large section of the Sierra Nevadas, including Yosemite Valley.

In this image, the USGS Hydrologic Benchmark Streamgage on the Merced River in Yosemite Valley can be seen. Hydrologic Benchmark streamgages are those at which no human development exists upstream of the streamgage. This streamgage is a cooperation between the National Park Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and USGS.

In this panorama image of Yosemite Valley Floor, the east side of El Capitan may be seen prominently. El Capitan is a granite monolith, rising about 3,000 ft (900 m) from the valley floor. It is part of the Sierra Nevada batholith and one of the most famous landmarks of Yosemite National Park.

In this image, the former USGS Hydrologic Benchmark Streamgage on the Merced River in Yosemite Valley can be seen. Hydrologic Benchmark streamgages are those at which no human development exists upstream of the streamgage.

In this image, the Merced River can be seen just upstream of Happy Isles and the USGS Benchmark Streamgage in Yosemite National Park. The Merced River is a 145 mile (233 km) long tributary of the San Joaquin River. It drains a large section of the Sierra Nevadas, including Yosemite Valley.

Uppder Yosemite Falls is visible on the right side of this image, taken behind Illilouette Ridge. Upper Yosemite Falls is 1,430 ft (440 m) tall. It is one of the most famous waterfalls in Yosemite National Park.

In this image, a landslide may be seen in detail below Moran Point in Yosemite Valley. The broken rock fragments are often referred to as talus deposits or scree.

An image of Moran Point from the base of Lower Yosemite Falls within Yosemite Valley.

In this image, a large pinnacle may be seen adjacent to Yosemite Falls. Pinnacles form as the granite is weathered away via ice, water, or plant growth.

In this panorama, Yosemite Falls may be seen on the left and Half Dome on the right. Yosemite Falls is the tallest known waterfall in North America, with a total plunge of 2,425 ft (739 m). Half Dome is a granite dome, part of the Sierra Nevada batholith.

Yosemite Valley from the Yosemite Falls trail. Yosemite Valley is a glacial valley in the Sierra Nevada mountains and the focal point of Yosemite National Park. The Valley is drained by the Merced River.

USGS scientist Jon Thomas collecting time-domain electromagnetic sounding in the Texas southern high plains to measure hydrogeologic properties below the land surface.