An article discussing the annual natural phenomenon at the Yosemite National Park

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Located in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, Yosemite National Park is famous for its giant, ancient sequoia trees and impressive rock formations, like El Capitan and Half Dome. However, from mid-to-late February each year, the pristine preserve’s main attraction is Horsetail Fall — a temporary waterfall that flows over the eastern edge of El Capitan every winter. During the brief two-week-period, the 1,500-foot-tall waterfall frequently transforms into a spectacular natural Firefall. For the natural phenomenon to occur, many conditions have to be perfectly aligned. For starters, there must be adequate snow, and the temperatures have to be warm enough for it to melt and form the temporary waterfall. During dry, or exceptionally cold, years, Horsetail Fall is reduced to a trickle, or fails to form altogether. The skies also have to be completely clear and cloudless, since even a slight haze can ruin the illusion of fire tumbling down the cliffs. Most importantly, the sun has to strike the water at a certain angle to light up the upper part of the falls, creating the distinctive, deep orange glow, reminiscent of a lava flow. Even if all the conditions are met, the wondrous spectacle, which occurs about 5 to 15 minutes before sunset, lasts just a few minutes. The Yosemite Firefall has been popular with both professional and amateur photographers since the 1940s. However, thanks to social media, its fame has risen to new heights in the past few years. Things came to a head on February 22, 2019, when a record 2,200 people crammed into the small viewing areas to observe the light show. In their quest to get a glimpse of the fleeting natural phenomenon, the visitors spilled onto riverbanks and trampled over sensitive vegetation. They also left behind large amounts of trash. To prevent a repeat of the unfortunate incident, every February, park officials close off the paths to the two easily accessible viewing areas. Visitors hoping to catch a glimpse of the Firefall now have to park in designated lots and hike 1.5 miles (each way) to get to the only open viewing spot. This year, to ensure COVID-19 social-distancing protocols are observed, visitors will require a reservation to enter the park from February 8 to February 28, 2021, reducing the crowds even further.

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1. Why is Yosemite National Park famous?

An article discussing the city of Yakutsk and its extreme weather conditions

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With a series of storms unleashing their fury across the United States this week — all the way from California to New York — many Americans are experiencing the full wrath of the winter season. Freezing as the temperatures may seem, they are balmy compared to those in Yakutsk, the capital of Yakutia, or the Sakha Republic, in Russia. The residents of this remote Siberian city have been enduring average temperatures of below -30°F (-34°C) since December 8, 2020, with the mercury dipping as low as -59° F (-50.6 °C) on January 19, 2021. While for most, the below-freezing weather would guarantee a slew of “snow days,” for kids that live in the “world’s coldest city,” anything over -40°F (-40°C) is considered “cold but not very cold.” Most schools only close when temperatures get below -67°F (-55°C unless they cater to kindergarteners, in which case the exception is made when the mercury falls to -58°F (-50°C). For adults, it is almost always business as usual. For many, this means spending the day selling frozen fish and other goods in outdoor markets. One would think that weather like this would have residents pining for summer, when temperatures rise to a more reasonable 65°F (18.5°C). But as it turns out, the residents of Yakutsk prefer the cold weather. Instead of basking in the heat, the long summer days are spent repairing homes and businesses to ensure they can withstand another harsh winter and — even worse — fending off swarms of giant, bloodthirsty Siberian mosquitoes. Fortunately, the warm season lasts for just a few weeks!

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9. In what place is Yakutsk the capital?

An article about the Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii

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After erupting almost continuously for over three decades — from 1983 to 2018 — Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano finally seemed to lose steam, producing no lava for nearly two years. The slumber ended on the night of December 20, 2020, when the active volcano began spewing out dramatic lava fountains and giant puffs of gas and steam from a fissure in the northwest wall of the Halema’uma’u crater. As of December 31, 2020, the volcano had ejected over 27 million cubic meters (953 million cubic feet) of molten rock — enough to fill more than 8,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools — and replaced the existing water lake with a nearly 600-foot-deep lava lake. Fortunately, the magma is contained inside the volcano’s crater and does not pose a risk to people or property as it did in 2018, when the molten rock flowed through a residential neighborhood, destroying over 700 homes. Residents have, however, been asked to limit outdoor activities in areas with high volcanic smog levels. Commonly known as vog, it is a form of air pollution created when sulfur dioxide and other pollutants emitted from volcanic activity interact chemically with atmospheric moisture, oxygen, dust, and sunlight. While not deadly, it can irritate skin and the tissues and mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, and throat, and it can be particularly harmful to individuals with preexisting respiratory conditions. While Kilauea is now recognized as one of the world’s youngest and most active volcanoes, it was initially believed to be an offshoot of a bigger volcano. It was only after researchers discovered a magma plumbing system extending over 37 miles (60 km) inside its crater in 1884 that the volcano was finally accepted as a separate entity. Many locals believe that Kilauea’s eruptions are caused by Pele, a Hawaiian volcano goddess who resides in the mountain. According to popular folklore, the deity — one of six daughters and seven sons born to ancient Earth goddess Haumea and universe creator Kane Milohai — was exiled to Hawaii from Tahiti. Upon arrival, she went on a rampage, creating destructive fire pits and volcanoes. While Pele was killed during an epic battle with her sister Namaka on the island of Maui, her spirit lives on inside the Halema’uma’u crater.

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17. For how many decades has the Kilauea Volcano been erupting?