Yosemite Falls turn molten orange

When the sun sets over Horsetail Falls, it creates an optical illusion, turning the water running down the rocks into something that looks like lava pouring down the granite face of El Capitan.

According to the National Park Service, this flame effect only occurs in mid-to-late February and only on clear nights when the waterfall is flowing.

Horsetail Falls in California’s Yosemite National Park is typically only open during the winter, and even light haze or cloud cover can significantly diminish the view, according to the National Park Service.