Yosemite National Park sits in four counties: Tuolumne, Mariposa, Mono and Madera County, in areas in California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range.

According to Unesco, ‘Yosemite National Park vividly illustrates the effects of glacial erosion of granitic bedrock, creating geologic features that are unique in the world. Repeated glaciations over millions of years have resulted in a concentration of distinctive landscape features, including soaring cliffs, domes, and free-falling waterfalls. There is exceptional glaciated topography, including the spectacular Yosemite Valley,…Yosemite has exceptional natural beauty, including five of the world’s highest waterfalls..’,

Scholars’ claim that this heritage valley has been inhabited for nearly 3,000 years and the native who call themselves Ahwahneechee meaning, ‘dwellers in Ahwahnee’ points to the land from where they migrated. ‘Ahwah’ is as same as Yahweh of the Bible and Ahura Mazda of the Avetsa. It means the seat of worship of Sage Mogha at Triveni. –eechee refers, ‘Yue-chi’ people whose ancient land was situated on the bank of the river Indus. Ahwahneechee are related to the Northern Paiute and Mono tribes. They are visited by Central Sierra Miwoks who lived along the drainage area of the Tuolumne and Stanislaus Rivers.

Yosemite—-Yosavati/Yosada/Yasodhara; the name refers to the wife of the Buddha; also mother of Sri Krishna etc. It was name of a city where Tissa Buddha preached his first sermon; it was the capital of King Sujata.

Tuolumne—Tala-mala/Tamala/Ptolemais; the Lotus region;

Mariposa—Mariaba/Mary region;

Mono—refers to Mino or Manna/or On or Anu people’s settlements;

Madera County—Madura/Madhi/Madra/Medea/Median

Paiute—Pei-to or the Tree of Wisdom of the Buddha; worshippers of the Pei-to tree;

Sierra—Seir, it means ‘the Lion’s people; Kingdom of Mesh

Miwoks—Makka or Mecca; place of tooth and hair relics of the Buddha in the ancient city of Baku;

Stanislaus—Sthaneswar means ‘Triveni’ region; Sthanu-kshetra;

Some took Miwok term for Pai-Ute band was yohhe’meti, and the meaning derived from this word is ‘they are killers’; it is not correct. Yohhe’meti means, ‘mother of Yahweh’ as same as Mother of the Buddha. It may mean,’Yahweh-Earth’ showing the Pei-to Tree standing on it.

The Merced River which is a tributary of the San Joaquin River is flowing through the southern part of the Yosemite National Park. The various names associated with this river’s course illumines the historic names of the ancient region of Ahwahneechee people.

Merced—Matsay or Fish Country; it may refer to moksha means ‘salvation

Clark range—Kurki country as same as Circe of Homeric epics;

Nevada—Nava country

Triple Peak Fork—It may mean Triple Gems of the Buddhism or Triple Peak of Mt Sumeru

Lyell Peak Fork—

Washburn Lake—Ash country; also Ashapurana

Echo Valley—Rich or chi country;

Bunnell Point—

Tenaya—Tiny or Tanais

Bridalveil—

Pigeon Creek—

Illilouette Creek—

El Portal—

Vernal Fall—

Lake McClure—

McSwain—

Crocker-Huffman—-

Hopeton—

Delhi—

Livingston—

Turlock—

Scientists speak on the ancestral river Merced’s rise in marine sedimentary rock formed during Paleozaic period of North American Plate 250 million years ago. Over millions of years, the Merced cut a deep canyon through the softer sedimentary rock hitting the granite beneath which arrested its downcutting. This imaginary geological picture of the Merced river valley through different geological period of earth do not speak of human habitation of the region but how glaciers rose in its four valleys in upstream of Yosemite have been presented.  

Sherwin Glacier—

Pre-Tahoe Glacier—

Tioga Glacier—