Eternal Flame Falls: This Miraculous Waterfall In New York Has A Perennial Flame

Nature never ceases to amaze! There are several places in the world that are full of mystery, eerie happenings and unexplained phenomena.

You might have heard about some of the highest and longest waterfalls of the world but there are many relatively unknown waterfalls which can only be described as weird and surreal. Eternal Flame Falls surely takes its place among the latter.

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Nestled deep with the Chestnut Ridge Park in New York, Eternal Flame Falls might feel like any other waterfall, but looks closely and you'll find a burning flame. There is a flame of fire always burning in the middle of it - which explains how it derived its name.

While eternal flames caused by the presence of natural gas pockets are common, what make this one unique is its location ¡ª under a waterfall.

There are various theories behind the burning flame. For one, scientists believe that the fire burns because of gas pockets that rise from the old, extremely hot bedrock made of shale. The rock's high temperatures break down the carbon molecules in the shale, which in turn creates natural gas. However, experts believe that isn't the case as the shale under the waterfall isn't actually hot enough or old enough to be causing the formation of gas pockets, Discovery reported.

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There are also various stories and beliefs among the common people regarding this waterfall. Most people believe that there is some divine miracle behind the flame that lives amid the water.

While some go as long as believing that this flame will be extinguished, only when a disaster like a great catastrophe happens on the earth. As long as the flame continues to burn, it symbolises that everything is fine on earth, many believe.

However, the reason is completely different. A report in Discovery, citing scientific studies, shed some light on the reason why the flame has been perennially burning. However, several studies are still underway to understand the phenomenon further.

Many scientists, citing their understanding of the subject, have reasoned that the presence of a good amount of methane gas could possibly be the reason why the flame keeps burning continuously. Many believe that someone had set a fire here many years ago and since then the flame is burning underwater.

The natural gas leak beneath the falls keeps the flame burning. The flame is often re-lit by the next hiker that finds it extinguished.

There is, however, still no sure-shot answer to the mystery of Eternal Flame Falls.

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