As Yosemite celebrates 160 years of preservation, Alex Corlett visits some unforgettable locations.
IN 1864, US President Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Grant. It was a ground-breaking piece of legislation for the United States, granting the first legal protection for land to be preserved and dedicated for public use.
Yosemite was becoming established as a tourist destination in the middle of the 19th century.
In 1868, Scottish conservationist John Muir first visited. He would later claim the valley to be as beautiful as a temple, but that “no temple made with hands can compare to Yosemite”.
Many consider it the world’s most beautiful valley.
To celebrate the anniversary of Yosemite’s protection, we’re taking a look at it and some other valleys across the world that might just give it a run for its money.
Great Rift Valley, Kenya
The Great Rift was formed by the separation of two tectonic plates, creating a depression that runs for thousands of miles down eastern Africa.
In Kenya, it was responsible for the creation of a number of lakes – some fresh and some alkali.
These lakes have become havens for flamingos, with up to 1,500,000 visiting to eat and drink here.
The lakes are also an oasis for giraffes, lions and cheetahs, as well as a huge number of birds just passing through. The Kenyan lakes are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Napa Valley, USA
Anyone fond of a glass of wine will know the name, as California’s Napa Valley is not famous for its jagged peaks or natural wonders.
Instead, its unique position between two mountain ranges – the Mayacamas and Vaca Mountains – mean that the weather creates a climate classified as “Mediterranean”.
Fertile soil and an influx of expertise have put the area on a par with Europe’s great wine-making nations.
This has also fuelled a boom in restaurants, including the world-famous “French Laundry”, a three-Michelin-starred restaurant.
Native wild grapes thrived in the region for centuries before the Spanish planted imported species in the 19th century. Just like Yosemite, the influx of people created by the gold rush changed California forever, driving the evolution of the western states and this valley’s nascent wine-making industry.
Romsdalen, Norway
In a country with breath-taking scenery round every corner, Romsdalen is a 38-mile h
