Rainbow Mountain
It’s true that the Rainbow Mountains exist! In fact, there are 6 around the world that you can explore, hike and of course, take stunning photos of for your lifetime memory. These mountains are famed for their natural and multi-colored beauty.
Mountain Formation
Mountains around the world are formed as a result of the convergence of tectonic plates, erosion, volcanic activity and other geological factors. However, one thing that all mountains have in common is that it takes millions of years for their formation. Over time, erosion from elements such as wind, rain, rivers, ice, etc. causes their surfaces to be younger than the rocks which initially formed them.
Many mountains are mineral rich due to a complex geological mixture of marine, lake and river sediments. Their stories began several million years ago. At that point in time, alterations on the earth’s crust caused the movement of tectonic plates which generated ravines between layers of ancient soils. The ravines exposed a tremendous wealth of mineral rock sediments such as sandstones, halites, gravel, and limestones that range from ocher, green, mustard yellow and white among others.
The Science Behind Rainbow Mountain's Hues
In the case of Rainbow Mountain, the minerals from such ancient soils were eroded and transported by the masses of waters that covered the area during the tertiary and quaternary periods. Over time, the minerals piled up over one another forming layers of different colors arranged according to the weight of each mineral. Further tectonic movements of continental proportions elevated such layered sediments, which will later become the top of Vinicunca mountain range. The oxidation of the minerals gave rise to the bright colors we see today.
The Story Behind Each Colorful Layer
Each color in this chromatic spectacle has a unique story:
The delicate and subtle pink comes from red clay, mud, and sand.
The pure and radiant white originates from substances rich in calcium carbonate, such as quartzite, sandstone, and marl.
The intense and passionate red is composed of clays and shale.
Meanwhile, the mysterious depth of the greens and blues comes from a combination of phyllite and clay rich in ferromagnesium.
With its natural charm, the earthy brown originates in rocks and magnesium.
And finally, the radiant and luminous yellow is a canvas of iron sulfide layers.
Extracted from:
https://www.rainbowmountainperu.com/
https://www.travelholicq.com/check-out-these-6-worlds-most-epic-wonders-rainbow-mountains/#:~:text=It's%20true%20that%20the%20Rainbow,natural%20and%20multi%2Dcolored%20beauty
https://www.rainbowmountainperu.com/rainbow-mountain-peru-origins/
https://www.salkantaytrekking.com/blog/the-history-behind-the-rainbow-mountain-in-peru-vinicunca/
