Yosemite Firefall (Horsetail Falls)
For 2 weeks a year, when the sun is in the correct position in the sky, Yosemite's Horsetail Falls will illuminate orange like Lava at sunset. First photographed by Galen Rowell in February 1973, this optical illusion is created when light from the setting sun bounces off the cliffs of El Capitan and backlights Horsetail Falls orange like lava. The term “Firefall” came into use because it reminded Rowell and others of the historic Yosemite Firefall from Glacier Point (when hot embers were dumped nightly from Glacier Point into the valley below. The historic Firefall event ended in 1968). Conditions have to be perfect for this optical illusion to occur. Horsetail Falls to be flowing (it’s a very small ephemeral waterfall so that is a big if). If it’s too cold or there is not enough snow above it won’t flow. If it's too warm or not enough snow it also won’t flow. And even if it DOES flow, you need the weather to be JUST RIGHT. One rogue cloud in the wrong spot can ruin the entire thing. When the conditions line up, Horsetail Falls lights up orange like lava and the Yosemite Firefall illusion comes to life.
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