"Mendicino Sunset"

by John Farley

One effect of smoke and haze in the air can be spectacular, colorful sunsets. This has happened a number of times this year in Colorado, beginning in June with smoke from the 416 Fire north of Durango, and then intermittently throughout the summer due to smoke from more distant fires on the West Coast from California northward to British Columbia. On August 7, there was considerable smoke in the air in southern Colorado due to smoke from various fires in California, and particularly the Mendicino Complex Fire, the largest in California history. Here are a couple pictures I took as the sun set over Village Lake near Pagosa Springs, CO:

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