Bridalveil Fall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bridalveil Fall |
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Bridalveil Fall as seen from Tunnel View on California State Route 41.
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| Location | Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California. |
| Coordinates | 37°43′00″N 119°38′47″W / 37.716753°N 119.646505°W |
| Type | Plunge |
| Total height | 188 metres (617 ft) |
| Number of drops | 1 |
| World height ranking | 431 |
Bridalveil Fall is a famous waterfall in Yosemite Valley, California. It is one of the first waterfalls you see when entering the valley. This beautiful waterfall is 188 metres (617 ft) tall. It flows all year long, making it a constant sight in the park.
How Bridalveil Fall Was Formed
Bridalveil Fall was shaped by huge sheets of ice called glaciers. These glaciers carved out the Yosemite Valley long ago. As the glaciers moved, they left behind high areas called "hanging valleys." Waterfalls like Bridalveil Fall then tumble from these high places into the main valley below.
Most waterfalls eventually carve their own paths deeper. But Bridalveil Fall still leaps from the edge of its high cliff. The water comes from Bridalveil Creek. This creek starts at Ostrander Lake, about 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) to the south.
Why It's Called "Pohono"
Bridalveil Fall gets its name because its water often sways in the wind. When the wind blows strongly, the falling water looks like a thin, flowing veil. Sometimes, the water even blows sideways. If there isn't much water, it might not even reach the ground directly below.
Because of this windy behavior, the local Ahwahneechee Native Americans had a special name for it. They called the waterfall "Pohono." This name means "Spirit of the Puffing Wind." It shows how much they understood and respected nature.
