AP PHOTOS: Yosemite reopens after shutdown

The Associated Press

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. (AP) — Visitors from around the world flocked to Yosemite National Park on Thursday after it reopened with the end of the 16-day partial government shutdown.

The National Park Service announced Wednesday night that major highways and roads leading into and through the park were immediately open to vehicles.

Yosemite's main concessioner also reopened facilities and welcomed visitors right away. The park's visitor centers and campgrounds opened Thursday.

With famous sites such as El Capitan and Half Dome, Yosemite is one of the most popular national attractions. It has been closed since Oct. 1, bringing local economies to a near standstill.

Another California attraction that was closed during the shutdown — Alcatraz Island near San Francisco — reopened Thursday.

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