Yosemite National Park is one of America’s most beautiful national parks. It is world famous for its rugged terrain, century-old Sequoia trees, high peaks and waterfalls.
A fortunate few have been witness to the park’s amazing natural “firefall.” Horsetail Falls, aka El Capitan Falls, drops 1500 feet off incredible El Capitan. For about ten days at the end of each February, if conditions are right, orange sunsets are reflected in the fall each evening, which makes the cascading water look like it’s on fire.
During the winter in Yosemite, coming off of El Capitan, there is an almost non-existent waterfall called “Horsetail Falls.” Many maps don’t even have it marked because it’s a seasonal waterfall and only flows during the peak of the snow and ice melt between December and February. During the last two weeks in February, IF there is snow and ice still melting from the top of the mountain, and IF it is clear at sunset (which doesn’t happen too often due to the winter storms) the setting sun will turn this waterfall into a stream of molten fire. In order for the waterfall to look like molten lava, the sun’s position must be exactly at a particular spot in the sky. This occurs only in the month of February and at the short hours of dusk.
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Beautiful!
The world is breathtakingly beautiful. Sometimes I step outside and am swept away by how beautiful the trees are. Thier green leaves are at times luminous, and the wind blowing through the branches seems like a song. We are constantly surrounded by miracles, that come to us so gracefully and seamlessly.
I agree with Marsha, the world is breathtakingly beautiful. I hope I get to see these amazing falls that I didn’t even know existed before your post. Thank you for always expanding my world.
Wow, a nature hack!
A fire without fire. Great catch!
Slava´s last blog ..The Alpsee Lake in Germany