Firefall in Yosemite.

Firefall in Yosemite. For the last two weeks in February, the Horsetail Falls in Yosemite National Park light up with a neon-orange glow resembling a flow of lava.

This spectacular natural event occurs only at this time of the year, when the rays of the setting sun strike the water at exactly the right angle .

For a video of this show: Yosemite Nature Notes – Episode 14 – Horsetail Fall

Photo sources: http://www.amusingplanet.com/2010/05/mesmerizing-yosemite-horsetail-firefall.html

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25 Responses to Firefall in Yosemite.

  1. Rajini Rao says:


    Oddly, Martin Sacha , they actually used to shovel real coal embers down this same waterfall, decades ago (1872 until 1968 ), for a “firefall”. They had to get the fire going early in the evening, so that by night it would be a mass of embers..then these guys would shove it off the falls for a brief moment of wonder. They don’t do that anymore.


    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yosemite_Firefall

  2. David chung says:


    Stunning! It looks like lava fall.


  3. Beautiful. Any idea on the date range when you can see this? Maybe I’ll take a trip over there on weekend soon.

  4. Rajini Rao says:


    Alan LaMielle , it’s happening right now (last two weeks in Feb)! So get on the plane πŸ™‚


  5. No plane needed, just a 3 hour drive. : )

  6. Rajini Rao says:


    Alan LaMielle , lucky you! I’ve not had a chance to visit Yosemite yet…


  7. holy shit, what is that last comment


  8. and comment just disappeared

  9. Rajini Rao says:


    Yes, Randhir Yadav πŸ™‚ I sanitized it into oblivion. πŸ™‚ If you see such rubbish in the future, just flag it as spam, thanks!


  10. Rajini Rao sure i will, np at all


  11. I remember watching the coal ember firefall as a kid in Yosemite. That was so amazing. Also remember my grandpa feeding the bears along the road. They don’t let you do that anymore either!

  12. Rajini Rao says:


    What wonderful memories, Darwin Woodka , thanks for sharing. In the Yosemite video that linked to, in my post, there is footage of the fire embers being tossed down the waterfall. What a strange concept it seems now, I wonder if they were trying to recreate this February phenomenon for the rest of the year.

  13. Joan Hogol says:


    Woah! fantastic and beautiful!


    So… where is Saruman? I can’t see him in the pictures πŸ™‚

  14. Rajini Rao says:


    LOL, Joan Hogol ! You must mean Sauron and Mount Doom? If you look carefully, you will see Frodo and faithful Samwise clambering up the granite face πŸ™‚

  15. Joan Hogol says:


    Frodo??? He has my precious!!! we want it!!!


    My precioussssssss

  16. Rajini Rao says:


    Frank Vargus , hard to believe those are the sun’s rays!

  17. Rajini Rao says:


    Come and visit, Katerine K ! Yellowstone Natl. Park is also awesome with its spurting geysers (“Old Faithful”).

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