Eternal Flame Falls facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eternal Flame Falls |
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The natural gas-fueled "eternal flame" below the falls in early spring, 2009.
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | Chestnut Ridge Park Erie County, New York |
| Coordinates | 42°42′06.5″N 78°45′06.1″W / 42.701806°N 78.751694°W |
| Type | Cascade |
| Total height | 30 feet (9.1 m) |
| Watercourse | Shale Creek, tributary to Eighteen Mile Creek |
The Eternal Flame Falls is a truly special place located in the Shale Creek Preserve, which is part of Chestnut Ridge Park in Western New York. It's a small waterfall with a grotto (a natural cave) that emits natural gas, which can be lit to produce a small flame. This flame is visible nearly year round, although it can be extinguished and must occasionally be re-lit.
For a long time, Eternal Flame Falls was a bit of a hidden gem, known mostly by people living nearby. But thanks to more people hearing about it through media and improvements being made to the path leading to it, more visitors have started coming to see this natural wonder.
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The science behind the flame
In 2013, a group of geologists (scientists who study rocks and the Earth) from Indiana University Bloomington in the United States and Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology decided to study Eternal Flame Falls more closely.
They wanted to understand how natural gas seeping out of the ground in places like this contributes to greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases are important because they trap heat and play a role in the Earth's climate.
The geologists studied the gas coming out of the main spot at the base of the falls, which they called a 'macro seep' (because it's a larger place where gas is seeping out). They found something interesting about the gas here. While natural gas is mostly made up of a gas called methane, the gas at Eternal Flame Falls had higher amounts of other gases called ethane and propane. About 35% of the gas they tested was ethane and propane, which is more than what is usually found in other natural gas seeps around the world.
They also estimated how much methane was coming out of the main seep. They figured it was about one kilogram (which is about 2.2 pounds) of methane being released into the air each day from that one spot.
The researchers also noticed that besides the main 'macro seep', there were many other tiny spots in the area where gas was slowly leaking out. They called these 'micro seeps'.
Where does the gas come from?
The geologists didn't just study what the gas was made of; they also wanted to know where it was coming from deep underground. By comparing the gas from the seeps at the falls with gas found in wells drilled in the area, they were able to trace the gas back to its source.
They discovered that the gas seems to be coming from a layer of rock called Rhinestreet Shale. This layer of shale is located about 400 meters (which is about 1,300 feet) below the surface! That's deeper than the height of many tall buildings!
How does the gas get from so deep underground all the way to the surface? The scientists believe that movements in the Earth's crust, called tectonic activity, likely caused cracks or breaks (faults) in the shale layer. These faults act like tiny pipes, allowing the natural gas that is trapped in the shale to travel upwards through the ground and eventually seep out at the surface.
Geologic mystery
The research at Eternal Flame Falls also brought up some interesting questions for geologists. Usually, natural gas forms in shale rock when the shale is buried very deep and gets very hot, around 100 degrees Celsius (which is 212 degrees Fahrenheit) or even hotter. This heat helps break down the carbon materials in the shale to create smaller gas molecules like methane.
However, the Rhinestreet Shale where the gas at Eternal Flame Falls comes from is different. It's much cooler than the temperature usually needed to make natural gas in this way. It's also younger and not as deep as typical shale layers that produce gas.
This difference is a bit of a mystery! It might mean that there are other ways natural gas can be created in shale that scientists don't fully understand yet. One idea is that maybe there is something else present in the cooler shale, like a special substance called a catalyst, that helps break down the rock and create the gas even without high temperatures. A catalyst is something that helps a chemical reaction happen faster or at lower temperatures without being used up itself.
Threats
As more people discovered the falls, it became more popular. While it's great that more people can experience this unique spot, the increased number of visitors also brought some challenges. Unfortunately, places that become very popular sometimes face issues like litter being left behind, damage to the area (vandalism), pollution, and the natural ground being worn down by so many footsteps.
To help manage the increased visitors and protect the area, work was done on the main trail leading to the falls. In August 2023, the main trail in Orchard Park, New York, was re-opened after some big improvements. This work included building 139 box steps. These steps help people get past a part of the trail that used to be quite tricky and steep. About 120 feet (35 meters) of railing were also added along the trail down to the creek bed.
Even with these improvements, getting down to the stream where the falls are can still be a bit challenging. It's important for visitors to be very careful and wear the right kind of shoes, like sturdy hiking boots, to stay safe while exploring.
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See also
