A perplexing optical illusion seemingly depicting a woman levitating has left viewers scratching their heads. The photograph surfaced on Reddit, sparking bewildered responses from users.

The snapshot captures a park scene, featuring a walkway flanked by cherry blossom trees stretching into the distance, running parallel to a waterway, while several pedestrians can be seen strolling along the route, moving in both directions, with a woman accompanied by a young child visible at a moderate distance. However, it's the foreground element that's causing the greatest confusion. The image seemingly depicts a woman, viewed from the rear, wearing a white top, floating a few feet in the air.

While her upper body, including head, torso and lower waist are clearly visible, she mysteriously appears to vanish at that point. The photograph creates the impression she's dressed in a cream-coloured skirt or loose-fitting trousers, with her legs tucked up before her as she hovers several feet above the pavement.

Most persuasively, what appears to be her shadow can be seen cast onto the path below, reports the Mirror US.

Reddit users were thoroughly mystified by the photograph. One commented: "A very very good one!!"

The key to unravelling this puzzle lies in what seems to be the woman's shadow. One user remarked: "I can't see what it's meant to be."

In response, another user clarified the situation, revealing the shadow is in fact a manhole cover. They explained: "The manhole looks like her shadow. She appears to float."

Another puzzled viewer questioned: "I see the manhole and the floating illusion but I still don't understand where her legs are? Someone help. Another replied: "She is crouching", explaining that this caused the skirt she's wearing to conceal her legs."

In response, the confused commenter said: "Ohhhh I see, she's further away from the camera. I see it now, thanks."

The woman is positioned considerably further from the camera than initially meets the eye, with the manhole cover producing the optical trick that she's levitating whilst projecting a shadow.

Her crouched posture enhances the impression that her legs are tucked beneath her.

One person, though, offered a rather far-fetched theory, joking: "What, y'all saying your moms didn't hover?"

Someone else responded with: "Where do you think the term helicopter parent came from?"