Video Parts (2)
This clip is Part 1 of a 2-part film.
YOSEMITE VALLEY Part 1
Description
The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: “Yosemite Valley is in the heart of the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. It is seven miles long, half a mile wide, and three thousand feet deep.” Map of parts of California, Nevada, Oregon, and Idaho showing Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, Sierra Nevada Mountains, Coast Range, Mt. Shasta, Lassen Peak, Mt. Whitney, Valley of California, Sacramento River, San Joaquin River, Merced River, Mono Lake, Sacramento, and San Francisco. “A grinding stream of ice ages ago cut this deep valley of the Yosemite.” Diagram showing glacier moving through valley. “Yosemite Valley looking toward the Sierra Nevada Mountains.” Diagram of valley and mountains showing Yosemite Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, El Capitan, and Merced River. “The first view reveals the nearly vertical cliffs that enclose the narrow valley.” View looking up at cliffs. “El Capitan guards the entrance to the Yosemite. Its rounded crest is three thousand feet above the valley. The granite walls have been polished smooth by the ice stream.” “Bridal Veil Falls is thirty feet wide when it starts to fall from the edge of the granite ledge, and nine hundred feet below it ends in a great cloud of fleecy spray.” Several views of falls. “Cathedral Spires are huge granite masses towering three thousand feet above the bottom of the valley.” “The Falls of the Yosemite descend 2,600 feet in three sections. The Upper Falls are 1,600 feet high. These are the Upper Falls from Glacier Point.” People and dogs on point looking across valley at falls. “Upper Falls of the Yosemite from valley floor. Top of Second Falls just appears.” Looking up at falls. “The Upper Falls have cut a deep notch in the granite ledge.” View of falls. “A glimpse of the two lower falls of the Yosemite.” Views of falls - diagram of valley and mountains showing Yosemite Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, El Capitan, Merced River, North Dome, Washington’s Column, Royal Arches, Glacier Point, and Yosemite Village. “All peaks have been rounded by the glacier into domelike cones. North Dome is one of the domes or peaks that guard the narrow valley.” View of stream, trees, and North Dome. “Glacier Point is three thousand two hundred and fifty feet above the little village of Yosemite at the bottom of the deep, steep-sided valley.” Men sitting and standing on Glacier Point. “Looking from Glacier Point into Tenaya Canyon which is a part of the Yosemite Valley. Half Dome is to one right. Cloud’s Rest is the peak on the mountain crest.” Ranger and dogs looking at view. “Washington’s Column is a pillar of granite that supports the massive walls.” View from valley floor. “Great masses of granite were removed by the glacier from the sides of the valley wall, forming the Royal Arches.” Royal Arches from across valley - diagram of valley and mountains showing Yosemite Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, El Capitan, Merced River, North Dome, Washington’s Column, Royal Arches, Glacier Point, Yosemite Village, Cloud’s Rest, and Mirror Lake. “The grinding force of the stream of ice is clearly shown in Half Dome, where half of a great mountain was worn away. The surface of Half Dome is polished smooth.” Half sphere of rock standing above valley. “Mirror Lake is one thousand feet below the surrounding cliffs. It reflects perfectly Mt. Watkins which is six thousand feet above.” People looking at reflection in lake. “Vernal Falls are nearest us and in the distance are Nevada Falls. They are cataracts larger than Niagara.” People sitting on side of mountain looking at falls. “The water of the Merced River flows with great velocity as it comes from the Vernal Falls.” People sitting on rocks looking at rushing river. “The turbulent water means the falls are a short distance up stream.” View of turbulent water. “Vernal Falls plunges three hundred feet from the granite ledge to the valley floor.” View of falls. “The quiet water of Emerald Pool is the beginning of Vernal Falls.” View of falls looking down. “Nevada Falls is guarded by Liberty Cap. The water has cut a notch in the granite ledge through which it flows.” View of rushing water. “The falling water of the Nevada Falls makes the beautiful Silver Apron.” Men and women looking at water rushing over edge of cliff. “Long ago the Indians called the Yosemite the ‘Heart of the Sky Mountains.’” “No better name has been found for this beautiful valley.” “The End.” [1920]
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