El Capitan, Granite mountain in Yosemite National Park, United States
El Capitan rises 3,000 feet from Yosemite Valley floor, forming a vertical granite wall that stands higher than three Eiffel Towers stacked on top of each other.
Warren Harding, Wayne Merry, and George Whitmore completed the first ascent of The Nose route in November 1958, spending 47 days on the vertical rock face.
Native American Ahwahneechee people named this formation Tutokanula, meaning Rock Chief, which Spanish explorers later translated to El Capitan.
The El Capitan Trail extends 20 miles with 5,200 feet elevation gain, requiring hikers to start early morning for a full-day journey to reach the summit.
During February evenings, Horsetail Fall on El Capitan creates a natural phenomenon when sunset light transforms the waterfall into a glowing orange cascade.
Location: Mariposa County
Elevation above the sea: 2,307 m
Made from material: granite
GPS coordinates: 37.73422,-119.63761
Latest update: May 28, 2025 03:11
Cliffs rank among Earth's most striking geological formations, ranging from coastal precipices to inland mountain faces. Along oceans, they shape coastlines for thousands of miles, while in mountain regions they form vertical walls that draw climbers from around the world. This collection documents significant cliffs across six continents, including Ireland's 214-meter (702-foot) Cliffs of Moher, England's white chalk cliffs at Dover, and Norway's Preikestolen, which rises 604 meters (1,982 feet) above Lysefjord. Among the locations are some of Earth's highest vertical walls. Hawaii's Kalaupapa Cliffs on Molokai reach 1,010 meters (3,315 feet), while Pakistan's Trango Towers rise above 6,000 meters (19,685 feet) with nearly vertical rock faces. Coastal formations like Normandy's Étretat cliffs, Ireland's Slieve League, and Australia's Bunda Cliffs along the Nullarbor Plain demonstrate the power of marine erosion. Inland, formations such as California's El Capitan, China's Zhangjiajie National Forest Park towers, and South Africa's Table Mountain create distinctive landscape features shaped by different geological processes over millions of years.
Geological formations develop over millions of years through natural processes including erosion, weathering, and tectonic activity. These rocks and stone structures take various forms – arches, monoliths, spheres, and pillars – shaped by wind, water, and time. They document Earth's geological history and provide insight into the forces that have sculpted our planet. From the red sandstone formations of the Australian outback to the granite arches of Central Europe, these sites demonstrate the diversity of geological processes across different climates and landscapes. The collection includes locations such as Uluru in Australia's Northern Territory, a 1,142-foot (348-meter) sandstone monolith of cultural significance to the Anangu people. In Rogaland, Norway, Kjeragbolten is a boulder wedged between two cliff faces. Pravčická Brána in the Czech Republic's Ústí nad Labem region is Europe's largest natural sandstone arch with a span of 85 feet (26 meters). Other examples include the Moeraki Boulders in New Zealand, nearly spherical stones along the beach, and El Capitan in California, a 2,900-foot (900-meter) granite wall. These formations serve both geological research and as destinations for travelers interested in exploring natural landforms.
The Nose
632 m
Yosemite Valley
1.6 km
Yosemite Falls
4 km
Horsetail Fall
891 m
Taft Point
3.7 km
Tunnel View
4 km
Camp 4
3.3 km
Lost Arrow Spire
4.6 km
Ribbon Fall
918 m
Four Mile Trail
4.5 km
Swinging Bridge
3.3 km
Middle Cathedral Rock
2.1 km
Yosemite Museum & Library
4.7 km
Columbia Boulder
3.2 km
Eagle Peak
2.4 km
Rangers' Club
4.7 km
Silver Strand Falls
4.3 km
Pohono Bridge
3.2 km
Yosemite Valley Visitor Center
4.7 km
El Capitan Bridge
1.3 km
Yosemite Creek Bridge
3.9 km
Dewey Point
3.6 km
Sentinel Bridge
4.3 km
Yosemite Creek Footbridge
4.1 km
Superintendent's House
4 km
Yosemite Research Library
4.7 km
Sentinel Meadow Boardwalk
3.8 km
Southside Drive
2.2 kmReviews
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