What causes Horsetail Fall to glow like flowing lava for a few days each February?

The setting sun lighting the water

Yosemite Quiz: Granite Cliffs, Waterfalls and Sequoias of the USA

This Yosemite quiz explores California's famous national park in the USA, with questions on Abraham Lincoln and the Yosemite Grant, El Capitan and Alex Honnold's free solo climb, Yosemite Falls, the February Firefall, the Half Dome cables, the giant sequoias of Mariposa Grove, John Muir and Theodore Roosevelt, Ansel Adams, Tunnel View and Hetch Hetchy. Ten questions.

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🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 90 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 90s

History
Which president signed the Yosemite Grant in 1864, protecting the valley for public use?
Climbing
In 2017, Alex Honnold climbed which granite wall without ropes, as shown in the film Free Solo?
Waterfalls
Yosemite Falls is one of the tallest waterfalls in North America. Roughly how far does it drop in total?
Firefall
What causes Horsetail Fall to glow like flowing lava for a few days each February?
Hiking
What do hikers use to climb the final steep section of Half Dome?
Trees
Mariposa Grove in Yosemite is famous for which trees?
Camping
In 1903, naturalist John Muir took which president camping in Yosemite?
Photography
Which photographer became famous for his black-and-white pictures of Yosemite?
Views
Which famous viewpoint shows El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall and Half Dome together?
Dams
Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite was flooded by a dam to supply water to which city?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: Which president signed the Yosemite Grant in 1864, protecting the valley for public use?
Answer: Abraham Lincoln
It was the first time the US government set aside land for its scenic beauty. Yosemite became a national park in 1890.
Q2: In 2017, Alex Honnold climbed which granite wall without ropes, as shown in the film Free Solo?
Answer: El Capitan
The wall rises about 900 meters from the valley floor. The film won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2019.
Q3: Yosemite Falls is one of the tallest waterfalls in North America. Roughly how far does it drop in total?
Answer: About 739 meters
It falls in three sections. It flows best in spring, when snow melts, and can dry up by late summer.
Q4: What causes Horsetail Fall to glow like flowing lava for a few days each February?
Answer: The setting sun lighting the water
When the sky is clear and water is flowing, the sunset turns the thin waterfall orange. Crowds gather to photograph the Firefall.
Q5: What do hikers use to climb the final steep section of Half Dome?
Answer: A pair of steel cables
A permit system limits the number of hikers each day. The cables are usually up only from late spring to early autumn.
Q6: Mariposa Grove in Yosemite is famous for which trees?
Answer: Giant sequoias
The grove has more than 500 mature giant sequoias. The Grizzly Giant is thought to be about 3,000 years old.
Q7: In 1903, naturalist John Muir took which president camping in Yosemite?
Answer: Theodore Roosevelt
They talked about protecting nature around the campfire. The trip helped inspire Roosevelt's conservation work.
Q8: Which photographer became famous for his black-and-white pictures of Yosemite?
Answer: Ansel Adams
Adams first visited Yosemite at age 14 in 1916. His photographs helped people around the world see the park's beauty.
Q9: Which famous viewpoint shows El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall and Half Dome together?
Answer: Tunnel View
It sits at the eastern end of a tunnel on the road into the valley. It is one of the most photographed views in the park.
Q10: Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite was flooded by a dam to supply water to which city?
Answer: San Francisco
John Muir fought hard against the dam, which was approved in 1913. Some groups still campaign to restore the valley.

Yosemite Quiz – California's Granite Wonderland

Yosemite National Park lies in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, USA, and covers more than 3,000 square kilometers. It is famous for towering granite cliffs, thundering waterfalls, giant sequoias, alpine meadows and clear rivers. Millions of people visit every year, and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Yosemite Valley was carved by rivers and glaciers over millions of years. Its walls include El Capitan, one of the world's most famous climbing walls, and Half Dome, with its sheer rounded face. Waterfalls such as Yosemite Falls and Bridalveil Fall pour from the cliffs, especially in spring.

The park has played a key role in American conservation. In 1864, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Grant, protecting the valley and Mariposa Grove. Naturalist John Muir wrote about Yosemite and campaigned to protect it, and in 1903 he camped there with Theodore Roosevelt. The photographs of Ansel Adams made its scenery famous.

Yosemite is a paradise for outdoor lovers. Climbers tackle El Capitan, hikers use cables to reach the top of Half Dome and visitors gather at Tunnel View and Glacier Point. In February, the Firefall lights Horsetail Fall with sunset colors. Black bears, deer and many birds live in the park.

The giant sequoias of Mariposa Grove are among the largest living things on Earth. Hetch Hetchy, dammed for San Francisco's water, remains controversial.

Yosemite's high country, reached by the Tioga Road in summer, has granite domes, lakes and meadows such as Tuolumne. In winter, much of the park is covered in snow, and Badger Pass offers skiing. Reservations are sometimes required to enter during busy months.

This quiz covers the history, landmarks, nature and adventures of Yosemite.

What This Quiz Teaches

This quiz is perfect for hikers, climbers and nature lovers.

The Yosemite Grant and Abraham Lincoln
El Capitan and Alex Honnold
Yosemite Falls and the Firefall
Half Dome and Mariposa Grove
John Muir, Theodore Roosevelt and Ansel Adams
Tunnel View and Hetch Hetchy

Quick Facts About Yosemite

Yosemite has more than 1,200 kilometers of hiking trails.
The Ahwahnee Hotel opened in 1927.
Yosemite Valley makes up only about 1 percent of the park.
Black bears are common, so food must be stored in bear boxes.
Mirror Lake reflects the cliffs in spring.
The Merced River flows through the valley.