Horsetail Falls looks like a river of lava when the sun sets. Photo / Ralph Crane via Getty Images
For ten days in February, the sun hits Horseshoe Falls at just the right angle to transform the waterfall into a river of lava
Yosemite National Park's firefall has returned for 2017.
The incredible phenomenon, which happens for only ten days each February, occurs when the setting sun hits Horsetail Fall at exactly the right angle.
The thundering waterfall gradually changes colours from white to yellow, orange and red, making it appear like a river of lava.
It's proved tremendously popular with local photographers and tourists alike, who are flooding social media with glowing pictures.
California has had a tremendous amount of snow in the last few months, and combined with recent rains the rivers are rushing.
The governor declared a state of emergency in mid-January as winter storms inundated homes and caused mass flooding.
Incredible Associated Press photographs showed an avalanche bursting through the door of one man's home in Northern California.
Meanwhile, a woman living in the state's capital, Sacramento, was photographed kayaking through her living room as she inspected the damage.
