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Yosemite Valley (California, U.S.A.)
A famous spot not only for its imposing granite cliffs, but as a mecca for climbing. From El Capitan to Half Dome, the mountain names here have some of the most famous names and reputations for rock climbing in the world. This glacial-carved valley is the heart of an ancient, exposed magma chamber. These types of igneous rocks form deep (15 to 30 km) below the surface during times of high magmatic activity. With time, they cool, crystalize and are exposed at the surface via uplift. Once at the surface they are eroded and shaped by glaciation. A similar-looking place to Yosemite is the Chief in Squamish, BC, Canada. It is my home town where I grew up so maybe a bit of a bias, but I think it looks like a mini Yosemite…
