Horsetail Fall (Yosemite)

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 Fall
Horsetail Fall illuminated by the setting sun
LocationYosemite National Park, California, United States
Coordinates37.7291°N 119.6284°W / 37.7291; -119.6284
TypeHorsetail
Total height2,130 ft (650 m)
Number of drops2
Longest drop1,570 ft (480 m)
Average
flow rate		very slight flows a few weeks in normal years

Descriptions

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]

Firefall

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. 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
  1. "Yosemite National Park Waterfalls". U.S. National Park Service. 8 December 2008. Retrieved 2009-01-05.
  2. "The Natural Firefall". yosemitefirefall.com. Archived from the original on 2013-01-27.
  3. "How to photograph Horsetail Falls". California Photo Scout. 28 January 2009. Archived from the original on 12 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
  4. https://www.kidsdiscover.com About Horsetail Falls, One of Yosemite's Ephemeral Waterfalls.
  5. Krishna, Swapna (February 17, 2017). "Check Out Yosemite's "Firefall" Illusion Light Up El Capitan". The Smithsonian.
  6. Greshko, Michael (February 16, 2017). "How to Photograph Yosemite's Dazzling 'Firefall'". National Geographic.
  7. Gammon, Katharine (February 17, 2020). "'It's a photo orgy': is Yosemite's rare firefall too beautiful for its own good?". The Guardian.
  8. "Horsetail Fall 2020 Date & Time Predications (Yosemite National Par)". Aaron Meyers. December 29, 2019.
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