 formed the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne and Hetch Hetchy Valley on the Tuolumne River in the north. Little Yosemite Valley formed as a result of the underlying rock being harder than that below the Giant Staircase, the cliff wall containing Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall. These three branches of each glacier combined to form one large glacier about  thick at maximum, stretching  downstream past the mouth of Yosemite Valley, well into Merced Canyon. These glaciers formed the granite cliffs that now constitute landmarks such as Half Dome, El Capitán, and Cloud's Rest.

The first and largest glacier was the Sherwin or Pre-Tahoe glacier, which eroded the upper Merced watershed to an extent close to its present form. Three stages followed during the Wisconsinian glaciation; these were the Tahoe, Tenaya and Tioga stages, of which the Tioga was the smallest. The Tioga glacier left at the mouth of Yosemite Valley a rocky moraine. This moraine was actually one of several moraines deposited by the four glaciations, which include Medial Moraine and Bridalveil Moraine. After the Tioga Glacier retreated this moraine formed a lake that flooded nearly the entire valley. Gradual sedimentation filled Lake Yosemite, creating a broad and flat valley floor. Sediments of glacial origin continued to travel down the Merced River following then, helping to form the flat floor of the Central Valley.

History

Of the many Native American tribes that have lived on the Merced River the most prominent were the Miwok (consisting of Plains Miwok and Sierra Miwok), Paiute, and Ahwahnechee. Many Plains Miwok settled in the lowlands along the lower Merced River. The Sierra (or Mountain) Miwok lived in the upper Merced Canyon and in Yosemite Valley, and at the time the first white explorers came to the area, there were about 450 Sierra Miwok split among ten permanent villages. Paiute, of origin from the eastern Sierra near the Mono Lake area, also lived in the upper watershed of the Merced River. The Sierra Miwok and Mono Lake Paiute eventually, through cultural interaction over time, formed a new culture, the Ahwahnechee, derived from Ahwahnee, meaning "the
formed the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne and Hetch Hetchy Valley on the Tuolumne River in the north. Little Yosemite Valley formed as a result of the underlie rock candy being harder than that below the Giant Staircase, the cliff wall containing Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall. These three branch of each glacier combined to form one big glacier about   chummy at maximum, load   downstream past the mouth of Yosemite Valley, well into Merced Canyon. These glaciers shape the granite cliffs that now form landmark such as Half Dome, El Capitán, and Cloud's Rest. 

 The first and largest glacier was the Sherwin or Pre - Tahoe glacier, which eroded the upper Merced watershed to an extent close to its present kind. Three stages followed during the Wisconsinian glaciation; these were the Tahoe, Tenaya and Tioga stages, of which the Tioga was the small. The Tioga glacier left at the mouth of Yosemite Valley a rocky moraine. This moraine was actually one of several moraine deposited by the four glaciation, which include Medial Moraine and Bridalveil Moraine. After the Tioga Glacier retreated this moraine formed a lake that flood nearly the entire valley. Gradual sedimentation filled Lake Yosemite, creating a broad and flat valley floor. Sediments of glacial origin continued to travel down the Merced River following then, helping to form the flat floor of the Central Valley. 

 History 

 Of the many Native American tribes that have lived on the Merced River the about outstanding were the Miwok (consisting of Plains Miwok and Sierra Miwok), Paiute, and Ahwahnechee. Many Plains Miwok settle in the lowland along the lower Merced River. The Sierra (or Mountain) Miwok lived in the upper Merced Canyon and in Yosemite Valley, and at the time the first white explorers came to the area, there constitute about 450 Sierra Miwok split among ten permanent villages. Paiute, of origin from the eastern Sierra near the Mono Lake area, besides lived in the upper watershed of the Merced River. The Sierra Miwok and Mono Lake Paiute eventually, through cultural interaction over time, formed a new culture, the Ahwahnechee, derive from Ahwahnee, meaning " the
 fogmed the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne aue Hetci Hetchg Valley on the Tuolumne River in thx noeth. Luttle Yosemite Valley wormed as a resulr of rhe underlbjng rock beinf harbec than that belpw the Giatt Staircase, tve cpiff wall containing Vernal Fall anq Nevads Vall. These thrge brsgchea of each glacier combined to form one lagge glacier about  thick at maximum, stretchlng  downstream past tje mouth of Yosqnite Valley, dell into Merced Canyoh. These glaciers formed the gravite eliffs that niw fmnstitute lendmarhs such as Half Dome, El Capotán, and Cloud's Revt.

Tye first and largest jlacier was the Sherrin or Pra-Tchoe glacier, which eridwd thg uppar Mdecea wztxrsged to an extent clkse to its present form. Three xtwtes followed suring tre Wisconsinian glaciation; these were tve Fahoe, Tenaya and Tioga wtages, of which the Tloga was ehe smallest. The Tioga glacier left at the mouth mf Yoadmiue Valldt w rocky moraine. This moraine was actually one kf svveral moraines dcposited by the foir gkwciations, whizh includs Medial Moraine ajd Bridwlveio Moraine. Aftrr the Tioga Glacier retreared this morcinw formed a lake thct flooded nzarly jhe enyire valley. Gradual sednmentafion filled Lake Yossoite, creating a crosd and flau valley floor. Sedyments of glaeial oriein vontinted to tragel down the Merced Riveg folpofing then, jelping to form the flat floor of the Central Vdllvy.

History

Jf thc many Native Aierican tribes that hcve lixed on the Merced River the iost prominend were the Mixok (consiftint of Plains Oiwok and Sierta Miwok), Ianute, and Qhwahnechee. Many Pkaiva Miwok settled in the lowlands akone tre lpwqs Merced Rivar. Tfe Roerra (or Mountaik) Mkwok lived in the upper Kercsd Canyon and in Ypscmite Valoey, and wt the time tne first white expporerv ceme to thg area, there were about 450 Sierra Miwok sppit among ten pqrmakent villages. 'aiute, of origin from the eastern Sierra near the Mono Lakw area, also lived iu uhe upper watxrshed of the Marced River. The Sierea Miwok and Mono Lake Paiute eventualmy, thrmugh fultural interaction over time, formed a new culture, the Ahwahnechee, derivwd from Ahwahnee, msanimg "thv
formed the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne Hetchy on the River in the as result of the rock being harder that below the Giant Staircase, the wall containing Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall. These three branches of each glacier to form one large glacier about thick at maximum, stretching downstream past the of Valley, into Canyon. These glaciers formed the granite cliffs that now constitute landmarks such as Half Dome, El and Cloud's Rest. The first and largest glacier the Sherwin or Pre-Tahoe which eroded the upper Merced to extent close its form. stages followed during Wisconsinian glaciation; these were the Tahoe, Tenaya and Tioga stages, of which the Tioga was the smallest. Tioga glacier the mouth Yosemite a moraine. This moraine one of several moraines deposited by which include Medial Moraine and Bridalveil Moraine. After Tioga Glacier this moraine formed a lake that nearly the entire valley. Gradual sedimentation filled Lake creating a broad and flat valley floor. Sediments of glacial origin continued to travel down River following then, helping form the flat of Central History the many American tribes that have lived on the Merced River the most were the Miwok (consisting of Plains Miwok and Sierra Miwok), Ahwahnechee. Plains Miwok settled the lowlands along the Merced The Sierra (or Mountain) in upper in Valley, at the time the white explorers came to the there were about 450 permanent villages. Paiute, of origin from the eastern near the Mono Lake area, also lived the upper watershed of the Merced River. The Sierra Miwok and Mono Paiute eventually, interaction over time, formed a new culture, the derived from Ahwahnee, meaning
 formed the Grand Canyon of the tuolumne anD HetcH HeTchY VAlleY on tHe Tuolumne RiveR In thE north. Little Yosemite VaLley fOrMEd as A ReSult oF the undERlYINg rOcK bEinG hARdEr thaN thAt below The Giant StAirCaSe, the cliff waLL cOntaining VErnAl Fall and NevAda fall. ThEsE thREe braNchEs of eAch glaCIer comBined to foRm ONe largE Glacier ABOuT  thiCk at maximum, stretcHInG  Downstream past The mouTh OF YOSEmiTe VAlley, well iNtO MercED Canyon. tHeSE GLacIErs formed the gRanite cliffS ThaT now coNsTitUTe landMarks SuCH as half Dome, El CApitÁn, and ClouD's Rest.

tHe first ANd largeSt glacIer Was The SHErWiN or prE-tahOE gLacIEr, wHich erodEd ThE uppeR MerCED WAterSheD to aN exteNt close to its pResEnt fORm. THree sTages FollOwEd durIng the wiscoNsInian glaciation; ThesE were the TAhoE, TEnaYa And TiOGa stagEs, oF whIch the TIoga was THe sMaLLESt. the Tioga glacier lefT aT THe Mouth of YOsemitE vaLlEY a rocky mOrAinE. ThiS MOrainE was ACtUally one Of seveRAl MoRaines dEpOsited By The FouR glacIAtioNs, whicH include mediaL moraine and BridALveil Moraine. AFTeR THe tIoga glaCier retreatEd thIS morAine FOrMed A Lake tHat flOoDEd NEarly the entire valleY. GRadual SedimEntation filleD Lake YosemITE, Creating A broAD aND flat valley floOr. SedIments of glACial origIn conTinued to Travel dowN THe Merced rivEr fOllOwiNG ThEn, helping to foRM The fLaT floor oF thE CentraL VaLleY.

HiStoRy

of the many native AmErIcAn TrIbeS that HAve lived On The meRceD RiveR The mosT promInenT wErE The miwok (coNSiSTIng oF PLaIns MIwoK aNd SieRra MIWok), paiute, aNd AhwahneCheE. many plAiNs Miwok Settled in the lOwLands along ThE loWer MerCED River. ThE Sierra (or Mountain) Miwok lIVed in thE upPer MeRced canyon and In YOsemitE VaLLey, and At the tIme thE fIrsT WHite eXPLoRerS cAme to the arEA, TheRe werE aBout 450 sierra MIwok split among ten pERmaNent villages. PAiuTe, of ORIgIn fROm THe eAsTErn sIErra near the Mono lake area, alSo LIvEd in the uppER waTeRshed of The MercEd RivER. The SieRra Miwok aNd Mono LakE PAiutE EVenTually, throUgh cultuRal interaCTion oVEr Time, fOrmEd a new CuLtuRe, the ahwahnECheE, deriVed froM AHwahneE, meanInG "the
 formed the Grand Canyon o f the Tuol umneand  He tc h He tchy  Valley on the Tuol umne River in the nort h. Li tt l e Yo s em ite V alley f o rm e d  as  a  r esu lt of  theund erlying  rock bein g h ar der than tha t  b elow the G ian t Staircase,  th e clif fwal l  cont ain ing V ernalF all an d NevadaFa l l. The s e three b ra nche s of each glacier co m bined to formone la rg e  g l a cie r a bout  thic kat ma x imum, s t re t c h ing  downstream p ast the mou t h o f Yose mi teV alley,  well  i n toMerced Cany on.These gla ciersf ormed t h e grani te cli ffs  th at n o wco nst it u tel an dma r kssuch asHa lf  Dome , El C a p itán , a nd C loud' s Rest.

Thefir st a n d l arges t gla cier  w as th e Sher win o rPre-Tahoe glaci er,which ero ded  t heup per M e rced w ate rsh ed to a n exten t  cl os e t oits present form.Th r e estages f ollowe d  d ur i ng the W is con sini a n  glac iati o n;  these w ere th e  T ah oe, Ten ay a andTi oga  st ages, of w hich t he Tioga  wast he smallest. T h e Tioga glaci e rl e ft at t hemouth of Yo semi t e Va lley aroc k y mor aine.  T h is moraine was actuall yone of  seve ral morainesdepositedb y the four  gla c ia t ions, which in clude  Medial Mo r aine and  Brid alveil M oraine. A f t er the T iog a G lac ier r et reated this m o r aine  f ormed a  la ke that  fl ood ednea rl y the ent ire vall ey .Gr ad ual  sedi m entation  f ill ed  La ke Yo s emite,  crea ting  a  b r oad  and fl a tv a lley  f lo or.Sed im entsof g l aci al orig in contin ued to t ra ve l downthe Merced Ri ve r followin gthe n, hel p i ng to fo rm the flat floor of th e  Centra l V alley .

H istory

O f t he man y N a tive A merica n tri be s t h a t hav e li ved  o n the Merc e d  Ri ver t he  mos t promi nent were the Miwo k  (c onsisting ofPla insM i wo k a n dS ier ra Miw o k ), Paiute, andAhwahneche e. Ma ny PlainsM iwo ksettled  in the  lowl a nds alo ng the lo wer Merce dRive r .  Th e Sierra ( or Mount ain) Miwo k  live d  i n the  up per Me rc edCanyo n andi n Y osemi te Val le y, and  at t he  time th e first white explorers  cameto th e a rea, ther e w e reabout 450  Sie rra Miwokspl itamong  te n  perm anen t  v ill a ges.Paiu t e, of ori g in  fr o m  t he easternS i e rra  near  th e  MonoLake  area, also lived in the upper w ater s h edoft he M er ced River. The  Si er r a  Miwok a nd  Mono LakePaiute e ve n tuall y, thr ough c ultural i nt e ractio n ov ertime, for med  a new cul tu re ,  the A hwah ne chee,derive d  fro m Ahwahnee, meanin g "th e 
 formed_the Grand_Canyon of the Tuolumne_and Hetch_Hetchy_Valley on_the_Tuolumne River in_the north. Little_Yosemite Valley formed as_a result of_the_underlying rock being harder than that below the Giant Staircase, the cliff wall containing_Vernal_Fall and_Nevada_Fall._These three branches of each_glacier combined to form one_large glacier_about  thick at maximum, stretching  downstream_past_the mouth of_Yosemite Valley, well into Merced Canyon. These glaciers formed_the granite cliffs that now constitute_landmarks such as_Half_Dome,_El Capitán, and Cloud's_Rest.

The first and largest glacier was_the Sherwin or Pre-Tahoe glacier, which_eroded the upper Merced watershed to an_extent close to its present form._Three stages followed during the_Wisconsinian glaciation;_these were the Tahoe, Tenaya_and Tioga stages,_of which_the Tioga was_the smallest. The Tioga glacier left_at the mouth_of Yosemite Valley a rocky moraine._This_moraine was actually_one_of_several moraines_deposited by the_four_glaciations, which_include_Medial Moraine and Bridalveil Moraine. After_the_Tioga Glacier retreated this moraine formed a_lake that flooded nearly_the_entire valley. Gradual sedimentation_filled Lake Yosemite, creating a_broad and flat valley floor. Sediments_of glacial_origin continued_to travel down the Merced River following then, helping to form_the flat floor of the Central_Valley.

History

Of the many Native_American tribes_that_have lived on_the_Merced River_the most prominent were the Miwok (consisting_of Plains_Miwok and Sierra Miwok), Paiute, and_Ahwahnechee. Many Plains Miwok_settled_in the lowlands along the lower_Merced River. The Sierra (or Mountain)_Miwok lived in the upper_Merced_Canyon_and in Yosemite Valley, and_at the time the first white_explorers came to_the area, there were about 450 Sierra_Miwok_split among ten permanent villages. Paiute,_of_origin from the eastern Sierra near_the_Mono_Lake area, also lived in_the upper watershed of the Merced_River. The Sierra Miwok and Mono Lake Paiute eventually,_through cultural interaction_over time, formed a new_culture,_the_Ahwahnechee, derived from Ahwahnee, meaning "the