A visit to Sequoia National Park should also include a visit to Kings Canyon National Park, which is nearby and home to the world's second large...
Sunset
Twilight
Darkness
Most people know that sunset is the time when the sun goes down. But did you know that the sun doesn't actually set? Instead, Earth rotates into darkness, giving us the illusion that the sun is setting. So what causes sunset?
Well, it's a combination of things. The Earth's atmosphere scatters sunlight in every direction, but blue and violet light are scattered more than other colors. This is why the sky is usually blue during the daytime. As the sun gets lower in the sky, the atmosphere becomes thicker and more dense.
This scattering of sunlight happens to a greater extent, and we see red and orange light more than blue and violet light. That's why sunset is usually a beautiful red or orange color. So next time you see sunset, remember that you're actually seeing Earth rotate into darkness!
, attractions, tourist spots, and more
Sequoia National Park is located in the mountainous eastern side of the United States, in eastern California. The park is bordered by Kings Canyon National Park to the south, Yosemite National Park to the west, and Inyo National Forest to the north. The nearest state capital is Sacramento, and the closest capital to Sequoia is Washington, D.C.
The city of Visalia hosts the main visitor center for Sequoia National Park, as well as the historic homestead of Sequoia National Forest, once the home of Sarah Winnemucca, a Paiute woman and chief of the Kaweah River Paiutes.
Sequoia National Park is generally damper and cooler than the surrounding area, and enjoys a milder climate year-round than either Kings Canyon National Park or Yosemite National Park. The high altitudes and granite cliffs provide a rocky and spectacular backdrop for the surrounding villages, which are all situated in the fertile agricultural valleys.
The main attractions in the park include General Sherman, the General Grant Tree, and the Old Sequoia National Park Visitor Center. General Sherman, at 328 feet tall, is the largest living tree in the world and the only one taller than 300 feet. The General Grant Tree, at 491 feet tall and 1,335 inches in circumference, is the largest living tree in the Eastern United States.
The Giant Forest Museum, in nearby Visalia, displays hundreds of artifacts related to Sequoia National Park and the trees that grow there. The museum also offers Ranger Programs, special-events programs, and exhibits on the history of the Sierra Nevada. The Sierra Club's Earth Walk Explorer Program provides guided hikes of the Giant Forest and surrounding areas.
A visit to Sequoia National Park should also include a visit to Kings Canyon National Park, which is nearby and home to the world's second largest waterfall, Yosemite Valley, and the colossal Half Dome. The entrance fee for Sequoia National Park also includes admission to Yosemite National Park, making for a well-rounded experience of the Central Sierra.
}As the sun sets, the sky slowly grows dark. For many people, this is a time to relax and wind down for the day. But have you ever wondered exactly when it gets dark? The answer may surprise you.
Did you know that darkness actually begins long before the sun sets? As the sun gets lower in the sky, its light has to travel through more atmosphere. This filters out some of the blue light, making the sun look redder. At the same time, shadows get longer and darker. So by the time the sun finally dips below the horizon, darkness has already begun to fall.
Of course, not all places on Earth experience darkness at the same time. Near the equator, the sun sets and rises almost directly overhead. This means that there is less of a difference between daytime and nighttime. Closer to the poles, however, the sun stays low in the sky for much of the year. This leads to longer periods of darkness during wintertime.