Pillars of light, a beautiful light effect

Pillars of Light in Jackson, Wyoming, USA

Although at first glance many might think that the colorful light rays in the image above come from an artificial source, in reality they appear spontaneously due to a number of environmental factors. Known as luminous pillar or pillar of light, this natural phenomenon is characterized by dazzling columns that seem to ascend towards the sky. This wonderful effect occurs when light is reflected directly on the glass of ice what's in the atmosphere.

The light that gives rise to such wonderful snapshots can come from three different sources: from the Moon, the Sun or from an artificial source, such as lights coming from homes and streetlights. When it is the sun's rays that cause the phenomenon, they are called solar pillars. Below these lines, we have an example of the latter type:

Solar Pillar at Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge in Missouri, United States

A couple more photos of luminous pillars that come to us from the north Europe:

Pillars of Light in Ruka, Finland

Pillars of light in Sweden

More information - Russian scientists report they have reached Lake Vostok two miles under the arctic ice

Source - World Photos
Photos - Tristan greszko, extreme instability, Timo Newton-Symst, Jarle Langâker Grindhaug