Fancy witnessing a fiery waterfall? What might sound like an oxymoron can be found at Yosemite National Park! Horsetail Fall is a seasonal waterfall that flows during the winter and early spring months when there has been ample snowfall and a subsequent temperature warm enough to melt it. For a couple of weeks in February, if the skies are clear, the water is flowing and the sun shines at just the right angle, the long, slender waterfall takes on a glowing, flame-hued appearance. Hundreds gather in Yosemite Valley to observe this mesmerising natural occurrence, to the point where finding a space to watch from can be a challenge. This phenomenon has earned the moniker "firefall," a homage to the historic Yosemite Firefall, a manmade event that was organised in the park from 1872 to 1968. Eventually, park rangers decided that dumping embers over a cliff onto the land below wasn"t the brightest idea.Desktop Version
Let"s mark the first new moon of the lunar calendar with a celebration! People gather to usher in the Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year, which ends 15 days from now with the Lantern Festival. In Chinatown, Vancouver, the streets come alive with the rhythm of drums during the parade, showcasing the traditional lion and dragon dance on the second day of the festival. Visitors can also take in martial arts displays and lively floats. The Lunar New Year is a time for families to come together, and it is responsible for one of the world"s largest annual human migrations. Did you know that 2024 heralds the Year of the Dragon, a mighty symbol of nobility, power and success?Desktop Version
During spring, Ottawa becomes a canvas adorned by the Canadian Tulip Festival! Each May, Canada"s capital blooms to life, boasting a mosaic of over a million tulips, with red and white petals encircling the iconic Parliament Buildings. This festival celebrates the friendship between Canada and the Netherlands, which began with the safekeeping of Dutch royalty during WWII and the birth of Princess Margriet in 1943 in Ottawa.Desktop Version
Embark on a celestial journey as the night skies over Penticton, British Columbia, are transformed into an enchanting canvas of light. The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, are a spectacular, luminous display dictated by the whims of a geomagnetic storm. This phenomenon unfolds when charged particles from the sun travel to Earth, colliding with atoms in our atmosphere at high altitudes. The excited atoms emit energy in the form of light, painting the night sky with vibrant hues of green, blue, purple and pink. Penticton"s northern geographical latitude allows for residents to witness its ethereal glory when the aurora dips low enough. Imagine snowshoeing into a snowy clearing and being met with this gorgeous light show!Desktop Version