Yosemite's rare 'firefall' is back: See it here
This unique lighting effect only occurs in mid-to-late February, under specific conditions.
Dozens of visitors recently gathered at Yosemite National Park to capture the breathtaking "firefall" effect on the eastern side of El Capitan.
The rare event happens when the setting sun lines up perfectly with Horsetail Falls, creating a bright orange glow on its mist and making the water look like lava.
This unique lighting effect only occurs in mid-to-late February, under specific conditions.
You can only catch it during evenings with a clear sky when the waterfall is flowing, and the sun is at the right angle.
"Even when the conditions align perfectly, the actual glow in the flow of Horsetail Fall occurs for a short window of time during sunset," reads a statement on the Yosemite website.
"And then the sun will have set, and it will be both colder and darker than it was moments before."
This event attracts many visitors to a small area, which can cause traffic congestion, so for February, a reservation is required to gain entrance to Yosemite.
Header image: File photo (Wikipedia/Public Domain). With files from April Walker.