Yosemite National Park - located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of central California - is a setting so spectacular and awe-inspiring that it is often referred to as the "Crown Jewel" of the National Park system. Earthquakes, glaciers and other forces of nature over millions of years left indelible footprints on the landscape that are still visible in the towering granite cliffs, thundering waterfalls, steep mountains and deep alpine lakes. They beckon visitors to explore, climb, photograph and experience their grandeur.