Spectacle enthrals huge crowd

THIS was no humble fireworks display.

A third of Canberra and more if you believe the promoters' boasts crammed the shores of Lake Burley Griffin last night to witness an epic, 21-minute barrage.

The crowd at Skyfire 21 impossible to count, but estimated to have reached 130,000 roared approval after the show's spectacular climax, before quickly clogging the city's streets as they tried to flee the rush.

Chief pyrotechnician Fortunato Foti's biggest Skyfire to date involved more than 3000 aerial fireworks and about 20,000 comets, shot from 11 pontoons on the lake.