The granite monolith of Half Dome (8836 feet or 2693 meters elevation) is a famous symbol of Yosemite National Park, Sierra Nevada, California, USA. The peak rises 4737 ft (1444 m) above the valley floor. Designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984, Yosemite is internationally recognized for its spectacular granite cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, Giant Sequoia groves, and biological diversity. 100 million years ago, the Sierra Nevada crystallized into granite from magma 5 miles underground. The range started uplifting 4 million years ago, and glaciers eroded the landscape seen today in Yosemite. Panorama stitched from 3 overlapping photos.
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