Shining like lava, a special time to see

In the world, there are many waterfalls that have become popular tourist destinations, but there are quite a few waterfalls that really stand out from the crowd. And when it comes to the strangest waterfalls on the blue planet, one cannot ignore the name Horsetail Fall, also known as “Fire Falls” because of a rare feature.

The strangest waterfall in the world

Horsetail Falls flows in winter and early summer from El Capitan mountain, in Yosemite National Park area, in California (USA), into 2 separate streams and pours from a height of 478.5m down the steep rock face, making the Drops of water shot up to form a band of fog before continuing to fall at the foot of the mountain. This waterfall is also white like many other waterfalls in other parts of the world.

But, it won’t be worth mentioning if around the last 2 weeks of February every year, Horsetail waterfall… changes color.

Why change color?

Every February, tourists and photographers alike flock to Yosemite National Park to see a very unique phenomenon with their own eyes. It’s “Firefall”.

It happens when the sun hits the Horsetail Falls at the right angle. From there, turning the normal waterfall into a brilliant orange color. The orange water kept pouring down like a stream of lava standing out against the snow-covered backdrop of the mountains. All create a spectacular scene, as beautiful as a wonderland.

Extremely rare phenomenon

The reason why people call Horsetail waterfall is a “rare property” that Mother Nature bestows because it must converge many factors on the correct month, day and hour.

First, “Fire Falls” only occurs in late winter, about 10 days in February, when the snow at the top begins to melt. During those 10 days, the sky must be clear.

If it is cloudy, the orange light will not reach the location east of Mount El Capitan. And so the phenomenon of fire waterfall does not take place.

If you have met the above two factors, you have to wait until sunset for the sun to reflect on the waterfall. It is also difficult to keep track of the right time, because there are always crowds of tourists queuing up, but the way is difficult.

Many photographers go to Yosemite every year, but some years they miss the road, and there are droughts so in the end they still can’t get the picture they want. However, many people have been able to admire the beautiful fire falls in Yosemite.

In particular, at the end of October 2021, many visitors to Yosemite have seen the magical “Firefall” phenomenon. Usually Horsetail Falls do not flow at this time, but a few fierce storms have created a rare phenomenon.

According to the National Park Service website of the US Department of the Interior, the unique lighting effect occurs at night when the sky is clear and the falls are flowing. Even a little cloud or dew will make the “fire waterfall” not appear.

From the Yosemite Falls parking lot, near the valley lodge, visitors have to walk another 2km to reach the falls.

Edgar Le, a tourist from Rochester (New York City) to Yosemite told CNN: “I was walking at the motel in the park when I saw the waterfall glowing. It looked like a stream of lava flowing down from Mount El Capitan. For a landscape photographer like me, that phenomenon is more special than most. a miracle”.

San Francisco photographer Scott Oller even quit his job to drive immediately to Yosemite when he heard the firefall could appear in October 2021.

Scott said, he first saw “Fire Falls” in February 2021 after many years of “hunting” but failed.

Scott expressed surprise at the phenomenon that it was one of the most “surreal” things he had witnessed. “My body froze from being overwhelmed. It was like seeing a total solar eclipse with my own eyes.” I said.

Source: Synthesis