TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Rainfall on Iran’s Hormuz Island briefly transformed the coastline of its famed Red Beach into a striking natural scene this week, as red soil flowed into the sea and turned the water shades of deep red.
The beach is known for its vivid red sand and cliffs, created by high concentrations of iron oxide.
When rain falls, as it did starting on Tuesday, streams of red soil flow toward the shoreline, coloring both the beach and the surrounding water and creating a sharp contrast with the blue waters of the Persian Gulf.
The phenomenon regularly attracts tourists, photographers and social media attention.
Beyond its visual appeal, the red soil — locally known as gelak — is exported in limited quantities and used in the production of cosmetics, pigments and some traditional products.
Hormuz Island lies in the Strait of Hormuz, where the Persian Gulf meets the Gulf of Oman, about 1,080 kilometers south of Iran’s capital, Tehran. Rainfall is relatively rare on the arid island, and happens mainly during the winter and early spring.
The island has become a popular destination with visitors drawn to its unusual landscapes.
Related Posts:
- Chipotle Mexican Grill creates a high-protein menu News Chipotle Mexican Grill is the latest restaurant chain to jump on the high-protein bandwagon, launching a new protein menu two days before Christmas. Six items ranging from 15 grams to a whopping 81 grams of protein will debut on Tuesday, Dec. 23. The items will be available for dine-in or…
- Andrew left out in the rain while King Charles entertains Princess Eugenie and Beatrice for Christmas lunch News Caption: Soaked Andrew rides while King Charles hosts Eugenie and Beatrice at Buckingham Palace Christmas lunchGETTY / Jim Bennett Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor struck a forlorn figure as he got caught in the eye of a storm with just a horse for company. In stark contrast, his brother King Charles was busy…
- Watching TV and horse riding in the rain – Andrew’s new life of doing nothing much at all News For a man who once moved through life with a full calendar and a fixed place in the national story, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s new and assumingly empty existence must be a tricky one for him to contemplate. After having his royal titles and engagements stripped away and with no ‘regular’ job…
- Rain returns to Bay Area – and could stick around through Christmas News SAN FRANCISCO – Rain was expected to return to the Bay Area overnight Monday and could stick around through next week, potentially complicating holiday travel, according to the National Weather Service forecast office in Monterey. Related Articles Bay Area’s December dry spell expected to reach an end Volunteers plant Bay…
- Rain returns to Bay Area – and could stick around through Christmas News SAN FRANCISCO – Rain was expected to return to the Bay Area overnight Monday and could stick around through next week, potentially complicating holiday travel, according to the National Weather Service forecast office in Monterey. Related Articles Bay Area’s December dry spell expected to reach an end Volunteers plant Bay…
(Visited 1 times, 1 visits today)