Ice Volcano in Letchworth State Park

Winter is usually a very quiet time of the year for Letchworth State Park which is located at the western corner of New York state. But in ...

Winter is usually a very quiet time of the year for Letchworth State Park which is located at the western corner of New York state. But in 2015 it drew many visitors from as far as Canada with something very unusual - a volcano. Ice volcano!

Letchworth State Park is known as the 'Grand Canyon of the East'. It's one of the most scenic places in the Eastern USA. Genesee River carved a deep gorge thanks to soft sedimentary rocks. There are also three beautiful waterfalls in the park with Middle Falls being the most magnificent one.
Genesee River flows into Lake Ontario near the City of Rochester. 
Visitors Center with huge icicles is closed for the season.
I bet people keep such long icicles as decoration.
Inspiration Point does what it's supposed to do - to inspire. Middle Falls at the front followed by Upper Falls with Portage Viaduct on top of them.
A person who came up with the idea to convert a regular pressure-fed fountain into this amazing ice volcano is simply a genius. 
I have to mention that winter 2015 was unusually cold. Subzero temperatures helped create multiple layers of solid ice until they became a 50 ft (17 m) tall cone.
This cone resembles a stalagmite which rises from the floor of a cave. 
A quick walk from the ice cone takes you to Middle Falls.
Someone fell on the muddy floor trying to conquer a small ice wall.
The sky-blue colour of icicles never stops to amaze me.
You can hike to Upper Falls as the main trail along the gorge is well-maintained in winter.
Picnic tables are quietly waiting for their visitors.
It must be scary yet rewarding to take a train which goes through this Portage Viaduct.

My other posts from Winter Wonderlands:

Frozen Niagara Falls

I'm a travel photographer and writer originally from Ukraine and now living in Canada. I have found a way to combine all my passions - travelling, photography, history, science and writing - in a single blog. I hope you will find it enjoyable and useful and will definitely come back.

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