Vernal Fall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vernal Fall |
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Vernal Fall from Mist Trail
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| Location | Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California |
| Coordinates | 37°43′39″N 119°32′38″W / 37.727426°N 119.543773°W |
| Type | Plunge |
| Total height | 317 feet (97 m) |
| Number of drops | 1 |
| World height ranking | 860 |
Vernal Fall is a beautiful waterfall in Yosemite National Park, California. It is about 317 feet (97 meters) tall. This amazing waterfall is on the Merced River, just below Nevada Fall. You can see Vernal Fall from far away, like from Glacier Point. You can also get very close to it by hiking the Mist Trail. The waterfall flows all year. However, by late summer, it has less water. Sometimes, it even splits into several smaller streams instead of one big curtain of water.
Contents
History of Vernal Fall
How Vernal Fall Got Its Name
The local people used to call this waterfall Yan-o-pah. This name means little cloud. Later, in 1851, a man named Lafayette Bunnell gave it the name "Vernal." The word "vernal" means something related to springtime. He named it this because of how fresh and green the area looks in the spring. Bunnell was part of a group called the Mariposa Battalion.
Exploring the Mist Trail
The Mist Trail is a very popular hiking path in Yosemite. It starts at the Happy Isles trailhead in Yosemite Valley. The trail goes mostly east-southeast. It is one of the shortest trails in the park, about 1.3 miles (2.1 kilometers) long.
The trail is often shady and goes uphill steadily. As you get closer to Vernal Fall, you will feel mist from the waterfall. This mist sprays onto hikers, especially in spring when the water flow is high. You might even get completely wet! The last part of the trail is a steep climb over rocks. This climb takes about 15 minutes to reach the top of the waterfall.
Once you are at the top, you will find a calm pool of water. This pool is called the Emerald Pool. Hikers often relax and rest around this pool. There is also a smooth, sloped rock area called the Silver Apron. Water flows over this rock into the Emerald Pool.
Staying Safe at Vernal Fall
It is very important to be careful when you are near the top of Vernal Fall. Swimming above the waterfall is extremely dangerous. The rocks around the water are very slippery. Also, the river has strong currents that you might not see from the surface.
It is against the rules to swim in the water above the fall. There are clear signs warning people to stay out of the water. Sadly, some visitors have been seriously injured or lost their lives after going into the water near the Silver Apron and Emerald Pool. Always follow the safety warnings to stay safe.
Vernal Fall on a Stamp
Vernal Fall even appeared on a postage stamp once! In 1932, a stamp from the Philippines was made. It was supposed to show Pagsanjan Falls in the Philippines. But by mistake, the picture on the stamp was actually Vernal Fall!
See also
In Spanish: Cascada Vernal para niños
