The Yosemite “firefall” has captured the interest of photographers and social media users alike in recent days, as the light show returned to the eastern face of El Capitan, the park’s famous rock formation.
The phenomenon requires very specific weather and light conditions to be seen, and has begun appearing at sunset in the past week. But viewers will have a short window to witness the spectacle, which appears as a stream of light running down El Capitan’s eastern face.
The firefall can be seen for just a few minutes at a time, when a small water stream is backlit by the sun setting behind a cliff face known as Horsetail Fall, at a particular angle.
Thousands of visitors typically descend on Yosemite national park when the visual effect is forecast each February.
Ticket reservations and other Covid-19-related restrictions are in place, to manage crowds amid the pandemic, although one-day passes for Yosemite usually sell-out within minutes, for those hoping to see the firefall.
Park visitors are also asked to park 1.5 miles away from the viewing area surrounding El Capitan, and must trek in each direction to see the phenomenon.