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Bridalveil Fall (Yosemite)
Encyclopedia
Bridalveil Fall is one of the most prominent waterfall
s in the Yosemite Valley
in California
, seen yearly by millions of visitors to Yosemite National Park
.
The Ahwahneechee tribe believed that Bridalveil Fall was home to a vengeful spirit named Pohono which guarded the entrance to the valley, and that those leaving the valley must not look directly into the waterfall lest they be cursed. They also believed that inhaling the mist of Bridalveil Fall would improve one's chances of marriage.
Bridalveil Fall is 188 metres (616.8 ft) and flows year round. The glaciers that carved Yosemite Valley left many hanging valleys which spawned the waterfalls that pour into the valley. All of the waterways that fed these falls
carved the hanging valleys into steep cascades with the exception of Bridalveil Fall. Bridalveil still leaps into the valley from the edge of the precipice, although that edge has moved back into an alcove from the original edge of the valley. While Yosemite Falls
seem to also fall into this category, the original course took the Yosemite Creek
down a gorge to the west of its current location. The primary source of Bridalveil Falls is Ostrander Lake
, some 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) to the south.
When the wind blows briskly, the waterfall will appear to be falling sideways. During lesser water flow, the falls often don't reach the ground. Because of this, the Ahwahneechee Native Americans
called this waterfall Pohono, which means Spirit of the Puffing Wind.
Waterfall
A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
s in the Yosemite Valley
Yosemite Valley
Yosemite Valley is a glacial valley in Yosemite National Park in the western Sierra Nevada mountains of California, carved out by the Merced River. The valley is about long and up to a mile deep, surrounded by high granite summits such as Half Dome and El Capitan, and densely forested with pines...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, seen yearly by millions of visitors to Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is a United States National Park spanning eastern portions of Tuolumne, Mariposa and Madera counties in east central California, United States. The park covers an area of and reaches across the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain chain...
.
The Ahwahneechee tribe believed that Bridalveil Fall was home to a vengeful spirit named Pohono which guarded the entrance to the valley, and that those leaving the valley must not look directly into the waterfall lest they be cursed. They also believed that inhaling the mist of Bridalveil Fall would improve one's chances of marriage.
carved the hanging valleys into steep cascades with the exception of Bridalveil Fall. Bridalveil still leaps into the valley from the edge of the precipice, although that edge has moved back into an alcove from the original edge of the valley. While Yosemite Falls
Yosemite Falls
Yosemite Falls is the highest measured waterfall in North America. Located in Yosemite National Park in the Sierra Nevada of California, it is a major attraction in the park, especially in late spring when the water flow is at its peak....
seem to also fall into this category, the original course took the Yosemite Creek
Yosemite Creek
Yosemite Creek Campground, located in the northern area of Yosemite National Park along Tioga Road , is a first-come first-served campground outside of Yosemite Valley. This campground is remote, quiet, and less populated relative to other campgrounds in Yosemite...
down a gorge to the west of its current location. The primary source of Bridalveil Falls is Ostrander Lake
Ostrander Lake
Ostrander Lake is located in Yosemite National Park, approximately south of Yosemite Valley and east of the Badger Pass Ski Area, at an elevation of . The lake is a popular destination for cross-country skiers during the winter...
, some 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) to the south.
When the wind blows briskly, the waterfall will appear to be falling sideways. During lesser water flow, the falls often don't reach the ground. Because of this, the Ahwahneechee Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
called this waterfall Pohono, which means Spirit of the Puffing Wind.