Some mountain peaks have the ability to cast their shadow into the clouds, making it look like a second, inverted mountain appears in the sky.
In some cases, this optical phenomenon is so spectacular that it can make you believe in a volcanic eruption… All the more so, when this inverted shadow comes directly from a volcano! This is precisely what happens regularly above Mount Rainier, located in Washington State in the United States, and considered one of the most at risk volcanoes in the world.
Around the period of the winter solstice, and more generally from the end of October to January, the sun rises very far south in this region of the American northwest: its rays are then lower than the mountain and they are positioned in the exact angle to give rise to an unforgettable sunrise, only when the weather conditions are right.
The sky needs to be cloudy for the shade to be spectacular, ideally with clouds located at medium altitude and fairly thick, such as altocumulus clouds. The sun’s rays then have enough matter (droplets and ice crystals that make up the cloud) for the red, pink or violet light to diffuse.
And as some rays hit directly upwards on the mountain, which rises to 4,392 meters, the inverted shadow of the mountain contrasts sharply with the flamboyant colors of the clouds.
To achieve this effect, the mountain peak must rise significantly above other surrounding mountains, and even better, not be surrounded by any other peaks, as is the case with Mount Rainier. The shadow is so intense that it can even be confirmed by satellite images:
The same phenomenon occurs in other places on the planet, such as in the Alps, but not as spectacularly as above Mount Rainier.
