Horsetail Fall, located in Yosemite National Park in California, is a seasonal waterfall that flows in the winter and early spring. The fall occurs on the east side of El Capitan.[1] If Horsetail Fall is flowing in February and the weather conditions are just right, the setting sun illuminates the waterfall, making it glow orange and red.[2] This natural phenomenon is often referred to as the "Firefall", a name that pays homage to Yosemite Firefall, the manmade event that once took place in Yosemite.
The waterfall is fed by rain or snowmelt. It descends in two streams side by side, the eastern one being the larger but both quite small. The eastern one drops 1,540 ft (470 m), and the western one 1,570 ft (480 m), the second highest fully airborne waterfall in Yosemite that runs at some point every year (the highest being Ribbon Fall.) The waters then gather and descend another 490 ft (150 m) on steep slabs, so the total height of these waterfalls is 2,030 ft (620 m) to 2,070 ft (630 m). It can be seen and photographed from a small clearing close to the picnic area on the north road leading out of Yosemite Valley east of El Capitan.[3] The fall is sometimes referred to as an ephemeral fall because of its seasonal nature.[4]
Firefalledit
For a couple of weeks around mid-February, the fall may be lit up by the setting sun, creating the illusion of a blazing waterfall. This evening spectacle, which lasts around 10 minutes in good viewing conditions, is commonly referred to as the "firefall".[5] The firefall phenomenon requires sufficient snowfall, a warm enough temperature to melt the snow so that there is enough water to create the fall, a clear sky, and the right angle for the sunlight to illuminate the fall. It is not always observable every year.[5]
The phenomenon was photographed by Ansel Adams in 1940, but made more widely-known by Galen Rowell who photographed it for the National Geographic in 1973.[6] Viewing of the firefall has become increasingly popular due to its images being shared on social media, and optimal dates for its viewing are published.[7][8] The popularity of the phenomenon to photographers has resulted in large congregations of people, which caused damage to sensitive vegetation, and led to the National Park Service closing two of the three best viewing sites in 2020.[7]
Referencesedit
^"Yosemite National Park Waterfalls". U.S. National Park Service. 8 December 2008. Retrieved 2009-01-05.
^. yosemitefirefall.com. Archived from the original on 2013-01-27.
^. California Photo Scout. 28 January 2009. Archived from the original on 12 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
^https://www.kidsdiscover.com About Horsetail Falls, One of Yosemite's Ephemeral Waterfalls.
^ abKrishna, Swapna (February 17, 2017). "Check Out Yosemite's "Firefall" Illusion Light Up El Capitan". The Smithsonian.
^Greshko, Michael (February 16, 2017). . National Geographic. Archived from the original on February 18, 2017.
^ abGammon, Katharine (February 17, 2020). "'It's a photo orgy': is Yosemite's rare firefall too beautiful for its own good?". The Guardian.
^"Horsetail Fall 2020 Date & Time Predications (Yosemite National Par)". Aaron Meyers. December 29, 2019.
External linksedit
"Horsetail Fall". World Waterfall Database.
April 12, 2024
horsetail, fall, yosemite, horsetail, fall, located, yosemite, national, park, california, seasonal, waterfall, that, flows, winter, early, spring, fall, occurs, east, side, capitan, horsetail, fall, flowing, february, weather, conditions, just, right, setting. Horsetail Fall located in Yosemite National Park in California is a seasonal waterfall that flows in the winter and early spring The fall occurs on the east side of El Capitan 1 If Horsetail Fall is flowing in February and the weather conditions are just right the setting sun illuminates the waterfall making it glow orange and red 2 This natural phenomenon is often referred to as the Firefall a name that pays homage to Yosemite Firefall the manmade event that once took place in Yosemite Horsetail FallHorsetail Fall illuminated by the setting sunLocationYosemite National Park California United StatesCoordinates37 43 45 N 119 37 42 W 37 7291 N 119 6284 W 37 7291 119 6284TypeHorsetailTotal height2 130 ft 650 m Number of drops2Longest drop1 570 ft 480 m Averageflow ratevery slight flows a few weeks in normal years Contents 1 Descriptions 2 Firefall 3 References 4 External linksDescriptions editThe waterfall is fed by rain or snowmelt It descends in two streams side by side the eastern one being the larger but both quite small The eastern one drops 1 540 ft 470 m and the western one 1 570 ft 480 m the second highest fully airborne waterfall in Yosemite that runs at some point every year the highest being Ribbon Fall The waters then gather and descend another 490 ft 150 m on steep slabs so the total height of these waterfalls is 2 030 ft 620 m to 2 070 ft 630 m It can be seen and photographed from a small clearing close to the picnic area on the north road leading out of Yosemite Valley east of El Capitan 3 The fall is sometimes referred to as an ephemeral fall because of its seasonal nature 4 Firefall editFor a couple of weeks around mid February the fall may be lit up by the setting sun creating the illusion of a blazing waterfall This evening spectacle which lasts around 10 minutes in good viewing conditions is commonly referred to as the firefall 5 The firefall phenomenon requires sufficient snowfall a warm enough temperature to melt the snow so that there is enough water to create the fall a clear sky and the right angle for the sunlight to illuminate the fall It is not always observable every year 5 The phenomenon was photographed by Ansel Adams in 1940 but made more widely known by Galen Rowell who photographed it for the National Geographic in 1973 6 Viewing of the firefall has become increasingly popular due to its images being shared on social media and optimal dates for its viewing are published 7 8 The popularity of the phenomenon to photographers has resulted in large congregations of people which caused damage to sensitive vegetation and led to the National Park Service closing two of the three best viewing sites in 2020 7 References edit Yosemite National Park Waterfalls U S National Park Service 8 December 2008 Retrieved 2009 01 05 The Natural Firefall yosemitefirefall com Archived from the original on 2013 01 27 How to photograph Horsetail Falls California Photo Scout 28 January 2009 Archived from the original on 12 February 2009 Retrieved 2009 02 04 https www kidsdiscover com About Horsetail Falls One of Yosemite s Ephemeral Waterfalls a b Krishna Swapna February 17 2017 Check Out Yosemite s Firefall Illusion Light Up El Capitan The Smithsonian Greshko Michael February 16 2017 How to Photograph Yosemite s Dazzling Firefall National Geographic Archived from the original on February 18 2017 a b Gammon Katharine February 17 2020 It s a photo orgy is Yosemite s rare firefall too beautiful for its own good The Guardian Horsetail Fall 2020 Date amp Time Predications Yosemite National Par Aaron Meyers December 29 2019 External links edit Horsetail Fall World Waterfall Database Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Horsetail Fall Yosemite amp oldid 1186570055, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
