The Cascade Of Fire: A Strange Phenomenon

Nature is always ready to surprise us with strange manifestations that provoke curiosity and admiration. Such is the case of the “waterfall of fire”, a phenomenon that occurs in Yosemite National Park, in the United States.

The name of the waterfall is called Horsetail Fall (‘horsetail waterfall’) and the effect is called firefall  and occurs towards the end of February. Let’s know what it is about!

How the waterfall of fire originates

The horsetail waterfall is located at a site called Glacier Point , on the El Capitan plateau . On the east face of the rock formation that faces west, the water descends from about 480 meters down the wall towards the bottom of the valley.

This waterfall flows in winter, but it might go unnoticed if it weren’t for its stunning sight when seen in bright colors – the Firefall . Although it is expected to occur every year, the spectacular nature of this phenomenon can only be seen if the following conditions are met:

• Completely clear sky.
• Full visibility, without fog or mist.
• Abundant snows during February.
• Moderate temperature so that the water does not freeze.

If all factors are present between February 15 and 26, you will be lucky enough to see the waterfall of fire in Yosemite!

Why does water turn the color of fire

The waterfall impresses with its intense color, a mixture of orange and red reminiscent of incandescent lava. Behind this magical aspect there is a physical phenomenon that has to do with the refraction of light.

The explanation is quite simple: the sun emits white light, which contains all colors — red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and purple. When light passes through the atmosphere, it decomposes like a prism; in this process, blue and violet are the ones that are dispersed the most, and for this reason we see the celestial sky.

At sunset, because of the angle at which the sun is relative to the Earth, the light has to pass through more of the atmosphere and more particles. Because of this, the blue disperses so much that it is no longer visible and reds, oranges and yellows remain. It is the color that we perceive in the sunrises and at the end of the day, under good weather conditions.

When the reddish light of the sunset is projected on the waterfall, the environment is clear and the temperature helps so that the water does not freeze, the spectacle of the fire waterfall will do the honor of appearing on the scene.

The cascade of fire and climate change

In addition to being conditioned by environmental factors, the appearance of this natural wonder is affected by the phenomenon of climate change. As a consequence of this, some years it does not occur and it is estimated that it is probably due to the severe droughts that have been occurring in recent times in California.

On the other hand, an abnormal lengthening of the cold seasons with more rigorous temperatures did not allow, on occasions, the melting of the snow in the quantities necessary for a sufficient water flow.

Since when is this phenomenon known?

It is believed that the ancient inhabitants of this territory, the Awahneechee Indians , knew about the phenomenon, although there is no evidence of it. In the 19th century, with colonization, tenants came to the valley and a hotel was built at Glacier Point .

It is documented that, every night since 1872, the owners of the place made an artificial firefall, throwing incandescent embers from the edge of the plateau to simulate a fire cascade. This practice lasted until 1968.

In all that time, there are no documents or testimonies of the natural fire waterfall; this makes it even more mysterious and attractive. The first record of an image of the natural firefall was made by the naturalist photographer Galen Rowell, and it is from the year 1973. Its fame increased with the expansion of digital media and social networks.

How to get to the waterfall of fire

Access to see this natural wonder is restricted and controlled by the authorities of Yosemite National Park. This is because the popularity of the site grew so much that the excess of visitors had a negative impact on the site.

To enter the sighting area, a special permit is required. Access cards are limited in number and can be processed online.

You have to keep in mind that you will only arrive with your car as far as the Yosemite Falls parking lot, and you must walk 1.5 miles to the El Capitan picnic area for observation. Only vehicles identified with disability cards will be able to get here without restrictions.

Fascination with nature: 10 minutes of ecstasy

The Yosemite Firefall official site says that “If all goes well and the conditions are right, the Yosemite Firefall will turn on for about 10 minutes.”

It is only 10 minutes, 10 days a year, in which the phenomenon hypnotizes those who indulge in its charms. The waterfall of fire is an ephemeral, random event with the possibility of disappearing. These conditions produce a lot of curiosity and desire to meet you!

If you are a traveler who is moved by the generosity of nature, we recommend that you visit the waterfall of fire. It is a magical place that you will never forget.