Intro to Letters from Yosemite Vocabulary

​A glacier is a great mass of ice moving very slowly down a mountain, along a valley, or over a land area.

​A glacier takes many

centuries to form.

​People were concerned that the glacier was sliding down the mountain, and would destroy the stream.

​Impressive means “able to have a

strong effect on the mind or feelings; able to influence deeply.”

​He gave an impressive speech that

made people want to vote for him.

​Is a very beautiful scene impressive?

​A naturalist is a person who makes a study

of living things.

​A naturalist studies plants and

animals in their natural homes.

​A naturalist enjoys spending days in

the wilderness.

​A naturalist studies plants and

animals in their natural homes.

​preserve

​To preserve something is to

protect it, keep it safe, or keep it from harm or change.

​preserve

​Why do we preserve land in city,

state, and national parks?

​You can see many interesting things when you visit a preserve.

​Slopes are any lines, surfaces, or

land that goes up or down at an angle.

​Sleds were racing down the slopes

on a snowy day.

​The library put in ramps with

gentle slopes so people in wheelchairs could

enter and leave easily.

A species is a set of related living

things that all have certain characteristics.

​This species of tree grows very large.

​Panda bears are a different species of bear than black bears.

​A wilderness is a wild, uncultivated

region with few or no people living in it.

​The forest preserve is 500 acres of wilderness.

​Early explorers had to be

brave to travel into the wilderness.