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The window to see the optical illusion of the waterfall of fire in Yosemite is narrow, and this year it closes this week.

But even if you are lucky enough to be in that national park 300 kilometers from San Francisco, jewel in the crown of the United States, no one guarantees you to contemplate the already epic Firefall.

The timing has to be right too: just as the sun descends on Yosemite Valley at a perfect angle at sunset, lighting up like a spotlight the waters of Horsetail Fall, a seasonal waterfall that all of a sudden seems to drag

red lava down the mountain

.

The phenomenon lasts about 15 minutes and always occurs in February, although it is difficult to determine the exact dates.

This winter, however, experts bet that, between February 12 and 25, the humidity conditions and the clarity of the air coupled with sunlight were going to provide a unique opportunity for the hunters of this show who have come to landing in the park by the thousands.

Jonathan Gleit is one of the photographers who has managed to capture it this year.

"It was partly cloudy so we weren't sure we were going to see it. When the magic hour came, the sun disappeared behind some clouds. It didn't look good. Minutes later, some red spots began to illuminate the wall and people around it began to cheer ... it was an exciting moment, "he told Instagram users.

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"It has been an incredible experience. Pure magic", says, for his part, the adventurer Ranz Navarro.

"I feel privileged to have witnessed this phenomenon."

True, if it's never easy, this winter there was one more obstacle to witnessing the star moment in Yosemite.

You can imagine it, the damn covid.

To prevent the influx of curious onlookers, the

California park

rangers

have issued day passes.

"It has been the best year to go see him," defends Navarro.

"That is how it should always be to limit the impact."

"Is it Yosemite or Mordor?" Asked Matt Schrum, another of those who have gotten "the photo" these days. "I'm almost sure you can see the eye of Mordor in those clouds if you look closely," he writes in reference. to

The Lord of the Rings

.

"Honestly, I couldn't believe it was that color."

Ramesh Hedge, who has visited 25 of the 63 national parks in the US, agrees: "It is the greatest spectacle I have seen in Yosemite in all my visits."

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

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