If you’re someone who enjoys seeing the night sky lit up, you might want to start planning a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains, because they are about to be lit up by swarms of fireflies!
Experts say that the fireflies will be lighting up the skies on these mountains, which are on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee, from May 30 through June 6. During this week, tens of thousands of fireflies will gather and flash together in the sky, creating a spectacle that has to be seen to be believed!
One of the best places to see this is at the Elkmont Campground in Gatlinburg, which is home to the largest population of synchronous fireflies in the Western Hemisphere.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park only allows a limited number of people to see the fireflies, and this year, they are only allowing 1,000 people to view them. Check out what it looks like below:
Each year, the park holds a lottery to pick which lucky people will get to view the fireflies. Since the lottery closed on April 29, you may have missed your chance to view the fireflies at Elkmont this year, but that’s not the only place to see them! You can also go to the backend of Cades Cove (near the Abrams Falls trailhead) or view them at Cataloochee Valley.
When you do find a place to see the fireflies, be sure to turn off all flashlights and electronic devices so that you do not disturb them. All you need to do is unplug, sit back, and enjoy the show!
The light show is all part of the fireflies’ mating display, which only occurs during this period once a year.
This really is a natural phenomenon that you won’t forget as long as you live. Check it out for yourself in the video below!
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