Ribbon Fall

Ribbon Fall, located in Yosemite National Park in California, flows off a cliff on the west side of El Capitan, and is the largest single-drop waterfall in North America. The fall is fed by melting winter snow; while therefore dry for much of the year, the fall is a spectacular 1,612 feet (491 m) in the spring. In exceptional years, an ice cone develops at its base during the winter months similar to that which usually forms beneath Upper Yosemite Fall. This deposit can reach a depth of 200 feet, versus 322 feet for the greatest depth of the ice cone beneath the Upper Fall and Lower Fall. It is the tallest, continuous falls waterfall in the United States.

  • The top of Ribbon Fall.

  • Ribbon Fall as seen from its base. Note the ice cone.

Famous quotes containing the words ribbon and/or fall:

    “I’ll tell you how the Sun rose—
    A Ribbon at a time—”
    —Emily Dickinson (1830–1886)

    “Let me have
    A dram of poison, such soon-speeding gear
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    That the life-weary taker may fall dead,
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    —William Shakespeare (1564–1616)