Eternal Flame Falls: New York’s mini waterfall that hides a grotto filled with undying fire
QUICK FACTS
Name: Chestnut Ridge Falls, or “Eternal Flame Falls”
Location: Chestnut Ridge Park, Erie County, New York
Contact details : 42.70158, -78.75113
Why it’s amazing: The falls are home to a natural gas seep that can burn continuously.
Eternal Flame Falls is a waterfall in New York State that is home to one of the world’s few natural “eternal” flames.
As the name suggests, Eternal Flame Falls features a fire that burns continuously behind the waterfall. The small fire reaches 20 centimeters high, protected from sea spray and wind by the walls of a small cave that surrounds it.
The air surrounding Eternal Flame Falls is filled with the smell of rotten eggs, according to the website. New York Fallswhich publishes guides to New York waterfalls. This is because the waterfall is surrounded by natural gas seeps that release hydrogen sulfide, methane and other gases into the atmosphere. And the largest of these seeps is located directly under the eternal flame.
Gases like methane are highly flammable. Thanks to the shelter of the small cave, the natural gas escaping from this seep can be ignited with a match or lighter and burn permanently. The other seeps around Eternal Flame Falls are not protected in the same way, so lighting them would not produce a lasting fire. These seeps are invisible unless they are located at the bottom of the creek and in pools near the waterfall, in which case the gas can be seen bubbling, according to NY Falls.
Eternal Flame Falls’ natural gas comes from the decomposition of organic matter in buried layers of shale. More specifically, the gas comes from a geological formation called the Hanover Shale which dates from the Devonian period (419.2 million to 358.9 million years ago). The organic matter that decomposes in this 27.5 m thick formation releases gases which accumulate underground. As pressure increases, these gases escape through cracks in the rock and soil, causing seeps to the surface.
The best time to visit Eternal Flame Falls is in early spring, when the waterfall and Eternal Flame look most impressive, according to NY Falls. The waterfall relies heavily on meltwater and precipitation, so it usually dries up in summer and autumn. The flame, on the other hand, relies on relatively dry conditions. It burns brighter in summer but is more beautiful in spring, as the waterfall diffuses the light like a lampshade, creating an unearthly glow.
Eternal Flame Falls is fed by Shale Creek, which joins another stream called Eighteenmile Creek about 2 miles away, according to NY Falls. The water then flows into Lake Eerie.
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