Eternal Flame Falls - Orchard Park, New York
Posted by: Szuchie
N 42° 42.105 W 078° 45.110
17T E 684132 N 4730146
Welcome to Eternal Flame Falls - a cascading waterfall in Chestnut Ridge Park with a burning flame behind the water.
Waymark Code: WM2BJT
Location: New York, United States
Date Posted: 10/07/2007
Views: 262
The Eternal Flame Falls is a small waterfall in the Shale Creek Preserve, a section of Chestnut Ridge County Park (Erie County, NY) where the creek cuts deep into a gorge through a layer of greenish-gray rock called Hanover Shale.
To get to the Eternal Flame Falls, park at N 42° 41.996 W 078° 45.143 (Seufert Road), and follow the Blue Trail marked with blue wooden blocks. Please do not try and find an alternate way to the cache area as the cliff walls are loose shale and clay mud and are extremely slippery. The Blue Trail is well marked and of moderate to steep terrain. Cachers will also need to cross the water at a couple points along the trail so please come prepared.
Upon entering the gorge and approaching the base of Eternal Flame Falls, cachers will notice a change in the ambient aroma. What you smell is the natural gas that leaks from between the shale layers. At the base of the waterfall you will find a small grotto that emits natural gas which can be lit to produce a small flame.
The natural gas that is escaping from this small grotto is a gaseous fossil fuel consisting primarily of methane. It is found in oil fields and natural gas fields, and in coal beds. When methane-rich gases are produced by the anaerobic decay of non-fossil organic material, these are referred to as biogas. Sources of biogas include swamps, marshes as well as man-made entities such as landfills, sewage and manure storage facilities. The result of this natural gas leak is two and sometimes three burning flames behind a wall of water.
Type: Cascade
Parking Coordinates: N 42° 41.996 W 078° 45.143
Watercourse: Shale Creek
Waterfall Height: 25
Seasonality: Perennial
Seasons of Best Flow: From: 01/01/2007 To: 12/31/2007
Viewpoint: Bottom
Path Up and Down: Full
Walk Behind: Not at all
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