California’s Yosemite National Park leaves visitors in awe every day. After all, the dazzling waterfalls, summits, and giant sequoias are extraordinary sights to behold. But on Feb. 15, the park’s rare and incredible “firefall” helped the park’s beauty reach people worldwide.
What is firefall? At Yosemite National Park, firefall is an eye-catching natural wonder that occurs when sunset lights up the water flowing over Horsetail Fall on El Capitan’s eastern edge. When clear skies and water conditions allow it, the phenomenon takes place in mid- to late February.
Explore photos of this spectacle below, and learn more about the history of firefall (including the now-defunct tradition of human-created firefalls) here.