A video showing tourists getting dangerously close to a waterfall in a national park will leave many viewers on the edge of their seats.
The video, posted to the @touronsofnationalparks Instagram account, shows several people trying to get a closer look at what appears to be Yosemite’s thundering Vernal Falls. Some people hang out just above the safety railing, while others try to walk on the rocks to get closer to the waterfall. Two people are right next to the waterfall, one standing and the other sitting.
“Yosemite’s water is incredibly beautiful, but it can also be powerful and dangerous,” the National Park Service explains on its website, which lists water safety tips, noting that the water can be very cold, and swimming can pose a risk of hypothermia. It also warns that even slow currents can be faster than expected.
According to a 2021 article in SFGate, since the park opened in 1890, there have been 53 fatalities related to the falls.
Getting too close to the falls is not only dangerous for tourists who ignore safety rules, but also for search and rescue teams trying to rescue people. Recently, a tourist was rescued in Long Canyon after straying from the trail and jumping into a dangerous cliff. Nature is beautiful, but it can also be unpredictable, and the rocks can be slippery and slippery.
If tourists do not respect the park rules, it can cause stress for other visitors.
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“For me this kind of behavior always ruins the experience of seeing a waterfall,” one Instagram user wrote.
Visiting such places will surely increase your awareness and motivation for nature conservation. Waterfalls are a good example of how ecosystems work. The waterfalls are not always as powerful as they appear in videos. According to the National Park Service website, the waterfalls usually peak in May or June due to snowmelt.
The falls may be completely dry or only have a trickle of water in August, but are revived by late autumn storms and may be covered in frost on winter nights.
Planning a vacation close to home can be a more earth-friendly type of vacation by reducing pollution from travel. In Yosemite, the waterfalls are primarily fed by melting snow, so temperature can affect when the falls peak.
Meanwhile, in the comments section, many people expressed their opinions about the behavior of these tourists.
“People are treating this place like Disneyland or something,” one user pointed out.
“Everyone thinks they’re the exception,” says another.
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