A national park in California's Sierra Nevada mountains, famous for its granite cliffs, waterfalls, and giant sequoias.
From Southern Sierra Miwok 'yos.s.e'meti' meaning 'those who kill' or 'killers,' referring to a Miwok tribe. The name was applied by neighboring tribes and later adopted by European settlers for the valley.
The name carries a darker history than most visitors realize - it originally referred to a group that other Native Americans considered dangerous. This linguistic layering shows how place names can preserve ancient conflicts while being transformed into symbols of natural beauty.
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