Caught on Cam: Reverse Waterfall in Utah Amazes Photographer

In southwest Utah earlier this month, using his drone the footage of rare reversing waterfall was captured by a photographer.

What happens when the wind defeats gravity?

Utah Reverse Waterfall

On January 16, violent winds tore over the state, causing ferocious updrafts along a cliff near Ivins that sent water spraying back upwards from a waterfall.

The drone's pilot, RJ Hooper, said on Facebook, "Seriously, the most fantastic day for such rare circumstances."

Hooper said that the 60 mph gusts over the cliff edge made it difficult for his drone to fly.

He said the waterfalls in Kayenta, Utah, have only flown backward a few times in the last 20 years.

Reverse Waterfalls

A reverse waterfall occurs when water in a cascade is pushed upward by a strong wind, creating the impression that water is flowing upwards. Such events may occur when the wind blows strongly and exceeds 75 km/h.

According to meteorologists, "reverse waterfalls" happen when strong gusts from the ocean strike the cliffs so forcefully that they cause the water to flow back up the path it was going.

Several Occurences

These have been seen in places across the globe where there is a risk of severe winds, including Australia, India, Japan, the UK, and the following:

Australia: Reverse waterfalls were generated by winds of 70 km/h in a number of locations, including Sydney, the Central Coast, the Mid-North Coast, the Hunter and Illawarra regions, and the Royal National Park.
India:

Naneghat Waterfall at Malshej Ghat Road, close to Mumbai

Near the monsoon, the waterfalls in Samrad hamlet in the Sandhan Valley reveal a reverse waterfall.

Many waterfalls in the Amboli Hills in Belgaum become active during the monsoon and are driven higher by strong winds.

Hawaii: Because of the trade winds from the northeast, the Waipuhia Falls on Oahu are inverted.
Furepe Falls in Japan's Shiretoko National Park leads to the Sea of Okhotsk. When there is a lot of wind, this fall also reverses.
Brazil: The Cachoeira da Fumaça (Smoke Waterfall) exhibits the phenomena in the Chapada Diamantina National Park.
Chile: The Talca waterfall exhibits the phenomena.
UK: Has been noted in the Peak District and other highland regions, especially during the winter months when severe winds may occur. This phenomenon is often seen at the Kinder Downfall waterfall in the Kinder Scout region of the Peak District.

Nature Photography

Landscapes, animals, plants, and close-ups of natural settings and textures are just a few examples of the natural aspects that are shown in nature photography, which encompasses a broad spectrum of outdoor photography. Compared to other photographic disciplines, such as photojournalism and documentary photography, nature photography often places a greater focus on the aesthetic value of the image.