Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Nature's Amazing Beauty

This is a fire rainbow - the rarest of all naturally occurring atmospheric phenomena.
The picture was captured several years ago on the Idaho/Washington border.
The event lasted for about one hour.

The clouds have to be cirrus, at least 20K feet in the air, with just the right amount
of ice crystals. And the sun has to hit the clouds at precisely 58 degrees!

I always hate to admit what a skeptic I've become when I see something like this, but I realize what people can/will do to create the image they want. From what I've been able to find out through Snopes, it is real, and it did happen in 2006, not recently. It is breathtaking and I surely would have loved to see it for real!

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22 comments:

  1. bobbieSeptember 30, 2009 at 9:47 AM

    A beautiful sight.

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  2. KaySeptember 30, 2009 at 10:06 AM

    miracles and blessings; i want to be there too! :)

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  3. AnonymousSeptember 30, 2009 at 11:03 AM

    Absolutely gorgeous, Sylvia. Wow! I have never seen such a rainbow in person.

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  4. jabblogSeptember 30, 2009 at 11:08 AM

    That is stunning! Once seen, never forgotten. I would like to see the Aurora Borealis but there's no guarantee even if you go to the most propitious sites - we shall see! (or not,as the case may be;-))

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  5. AnonymousSeptember 30, 2009 at 11:13 AM

    It certainly takes the right conditions to see beneath the surface, and to know that there is more to life that meets the eye.

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  6. Great Grandma LinSeptember 30, 2009 at 11:40 AM

    fascinating, never heard of that before.

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  7. JanieSeptember 30, 2009 at 12:52 PM

    Very beautiful! I've never seen such a thing and, given all the requirements for it to happen, I probably never will. Thanks for sharing the ph oto and telling us about how it occurs.

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  8. KaySeptember 30, 2009 at 12:53 PM

    Wouldn't that have been incredible to see it for yourself? That's awesome!

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  9. Elizabeth BradleySeptember 30, 2009 at 12:53 PM

    Wouldn't that be a sight to witness? I lived up in Northern B.C. for a time and saw the Aurora Borealis on several notable occasions. I still dream about it. Talk about other worldly.

    Thanks for sharing this, I had never heard of a fire rainbow.

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  10. Rinkly RimesSeptember 30, 2009 at 1:38 PM

    What a shame that we have to check to see if w're being duped! But your reality photo is superb.

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  11. pink dogwoodSeptember 30, 2009 at 2:59 PM

    Wow - I would have loved to see it as well.

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  12. Maggie MaySeptember 30, 2009 at 3:20 PM

    It is truly beautiful and I would definitely have thought it was touched up if you hadn't have assured me otherwise.

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  13. MareSeptember 30, 2009 at 3:35 PM

    I had never heard of this before today. Thanks for sharing.mmI learned something today!!

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  14. AnonymousSeptember 30, 2009 at 3:48 PM

    Wow, if that's real it's awesome.

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  15. GabbiSeptember 30, 2009 at 3:51 PM

    Beautiful... would love to see it also.

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  16. ShirlSeptember 30, 2009 at 4:33 PM

    Amazing isn't it?
    Thanks for stopping by

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  17. QSeptember 30, 2009 at 5:02 PM

    It is beautiful!
    Sherry

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  18. Janie BSeptember 30, 2009 at 5:07 PM

    Incredible sight!!!

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  19. JaySeptember 30, 2009 at 5:08 PM

    WOW!! I've never seen that, or even heard about it, but it certainly is stunningly beautiful!

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  20. Susan at Stony RiverOctober 1, 2009 at 5:50 PM

    Can you imagine seeing something that wonderful with your own eyes? I'd think I was dreaming.
    Thank you for sharing that Sylvia, and what you found out about it! It's fascinating.

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  21. BaruchOctober 1, 2009 at 11:27 PM

    Mmmm, I'm with you one this one. I too am a skeptic and Snopes is a good site to check things out

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  22. abbFebruary 25, 2010 at 8:58 AM

    That's incredibly beautiful. Puts sun dogs to shame. This is on my bucket list of things I'd love to see.

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