Horsetail Fall (Yosemite)

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Horsetail Fall
2007-02-16 - Horsetail Fall (Yosemite).jpg
Horsetail Fall illuminated by the setting sun
Horsetail Fall (Yosemite)
Location Yosemite National Park, California, United States
Coordinates 37°43′45″N119°37′42″W / 37.7291°N 119.6284°W / 37.7291; -119.6284 Coordinates: 37°43′45″N119°37′42″W / 37.7291°N 119.6284°W / 37.7291; -119.6284
Type Horsetail
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

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.

Contents

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. [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]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yosemite National Park</span> National park in California, United States

Yosemite National Park is an American national park in the state of California, surrounded on the southeast by Sierra National Forest and on the northwest by Stanislaus National Forest. The park is managed by the National Park Service and covers an area of 759,620 acres in four counties – centered in Tuolumne and Mariposa, extending north and east to Mono and south to Madera County. Designated a World Heritage Site in 1984, Yosemite is internationally recognized for its cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, giant sequoia groves, lakes, mountains, meadows, glaciers, and biological diversity. Almost 95 percent of the park is designated wilderness. Yosemite is one of the largest and least fragmented habitat blocks in the Sierra Nevada, and the park supports a diversity of plants and animals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yosemite Valley</span> Glacial valley in California, United States

Yosemite Valley is a glacial valley in Yosemite National Park in the western Sierra Nevada mountains of Central California. The valley is about 7.5 mi (12.1 km) long and 3,000–3,500 ft (910–1,070 m) deep, surrounded by high granite summits such as Half Dome and El Capitan, and densely forested with pines. The valley is drained by the Merced River, and a multitude of streams and waterfalls flow into it, including Tenaya, Illilouette, Yosemite and Bridalveil Creeks. Yosemite Falls is the highest waterfall in North America and is a big attraction especially in the spring, when the water flow is at its peak. The valley is renowned for its natural environment and is regarded as the centerpiece of Yosemite National Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bridalveil Fall</span> Waterfall in Yosemite National Park, California.

Bridalveil Fall is one of the most prominent waterfalls in the Yosemite Valley in California. The waterfall is 188 metres (617 ft) in height and flows year round.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yosemite Falls</span> Waterfall in California, United States

Yosemite Falls is the highest waterfall in Yosemite National Park, dropping a total of 2,425 feet (739 m) from the top of the upper fall to the base of the lower fall. Located in the Sierra Nevada of California, it is a major attraction in the park, especially in late spring when the water flow is at its peak.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mist Trail</span> Hiking trail in Yosemite National Park, California

The Mist Trail is one of the most popular short hikes in Yosemite National Park, California, USA. The steep hike follows the Merced River, starting at Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley, past Vernal Fall and Emerald Pool, to Nevada Fall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wallaman Falls</span> Waterfall on Stony Creek in Queensland, Australia

The Wallaman Falls, a cascade and horsetail waterfall on the Stony Creek, is located in the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Wet Tropics in the locality of Wallaman, Shire of Hinchinbrook in the northern region of Queensland, Australia. The waterfall is notable for its main drop of 268 metres (879 ft), which makes it the country's tallest single-drop waterfall. The pool at the bottom of the waterfall is 20 metres (66 ft) deep. An estimated 100,000 people visit the waterfall annually.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">El Capitan</span> Vertical rock formation in Yosemite National Park

El Capitan is a vertical rock formation in Yosemite National Park, on the north side of Yosemite Valley, near its western end. The granite monolith is about 3,000 feet (914 m) from base to summit along its tallest face and is a popular objective for rock climbers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camp 4 (Yosemite)</span> United States historic place

Camp 4 is a tent-only campground in Yosemite National Park in the United States. It became notable after World War II as "a birthplace of rock climbing’s modern age." It is located at an elevation of 4000 ft on the north side of the Yosemite Valley, close to base of granite cliffs near Yosemite Falls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ribbon Fall</span> Waterfall in California, United States

Ribbon Fall, located in Yosemite National Park in California, flows off a cliff on the west side of El Capitan and is the longest single-drop waterfall in North America. The fall is fed by melting winter snow; while therefore dry for much of the year, the fall is a spectacular 1,612 feet in the spring. In exceptional years, an ice cone develops at its base during the winter months similar to that which usually forms beneath Upper Yosemite Fall. This deposit can reach a depth of 200 feet, versus 322 feet for the greatest depth of the ice cone beneath the Upper Fall and Lower Fall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yosemite Firefall</span> Summer event of spilling embers in Yosemite National Park

The Yosemite Firefall was a summer time event that began in 1872 and continued for almost a century, in which burning hot embers were spilled from the top of Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park to the valley 3,000 feet (900 m) below. From a distance it appeared as a glowing waterfall. The owners of the Glacier Point Hotel conducted the firefall. History has it that David Curry, founder of Camp Curry, would stand at the base of the fall, and yell "Let the fire fall," each night as a signal to start pushing the embers over.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Staircase Falls</span> Waterfall in CA, US

Staircase Falls is a series of waterfalls located on the southern side of Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park, California. The falls descend a total of 1,300 feet (400 m) into Yosemite Valley over a series of steps. Staircase Falls is relatively ephemeral and is usually dry by the end of the month of June. The falls are located immediately behind Camp Curry on cliffs below Glacier Point.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wapama Falls</span> Waterfall in California, United States

Wapama Falls is the larger of two waterfalls located on the northern wall of Hetch Hetchy Valley below Hetch Hetchy Dome, in Yosemite National Park. It flows almost year-round and during peak flow has been known to inundate the trail bridge crossing its base, making the falls impossible to pass. The falls consist of two primary drops angled roughly 60 degrees to each other, and a broad cascade at its base.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of the Yosemite area</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salt Creek Falls</span> Waterfall in Lane County, Oregon

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The Pywiack Cascade is a waterfall in Yosemite National Park within the U.S. state of California. It is located a few miles downstream from the outlet of Tenaya Lake on Tenaya Creek at the head of the steep and rugged granite gorge, Tenaya Canyon. The waterfall can be viewed from Glacier Point, or by a 6-mile (9.7 km) hike from Olmsted Point, but the canyon is dangerous and the waterfall is unsafe to be reached on foot. The waterfall is highly seasonal. It typically rages in the spring and early summer while shrinking to a trickle by late summer to mid-autumn.

Firefall is an American rock band formed in 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Schwartzenbach Falls</span> Waterfall in Nunavut, Canada

Schwartzenbach Falls, also known as Qulitasaniakvik, is a tiered horsetail waterfall located in the Weasel River Valley of Baffin Island in Nunavut, Canada. With an overall height of 520 m (1,710 ft), it is the 4th tallest waterfall in Canada and the tallest in Canada outside of British Columbia.

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. 1 2 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. 1 2 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.