I've seen a moonbow on the beach. Is this just a static moonbow meaning you can reliably see such an event? I looked it up but saying it's the only place to witness such an event is confusing. They happen but are rare. I couldn't figure out what on earth was happening. Like is that like an inverted rainbow? in the dark?!? A very cool moment.
I don't live too far from it. I've seen it many times since I was a child so it's not all that spectacular to me, but here is some info. on it:
Moonbow
During or near a
full moon on clear nights, a lunar rainbow or
moonbow is sometimes formed by the water of the falls. The formation of a moonbow at Cumberland Falls is aided by a combination of steep gorge walls, which reduce dissipation of the waterfall's mist by wind, and a wide gorge which allows increased levels of moonlight.
It is the only location in the
Western Hemisphere where moonbows are known to appear with regularity, and the Kentucky Department of Parks publishes schedules for visitors.
The ability of visitors to see a moonbow may vary with water level. At low levels, the falls may not produce sufficient mist for the phenomenon. Conversely, if conditions include substantial downstream wind, this may increase the level of mist and make a moonbow more likely to be visible.
Cumberland Falls moonbow
Statistics
Cumberland Falls is the second largest waterfall east of the
Rocky Mountains, and the largest waterfall as measured by water volume in the
Eastern United States, south of
Niagara Falls. The falls divides the river into two sections, the Upper and Lower, or "below the falls" section.
