Danxia Landforms, China
Danxia Landforms from Gansu province in Zhangye region of China
The beautiful layers of colors are the Danxia landform from Northern China’s Zhangye region. There are several ‘Danxia’ landforms in Zhangye but this one along the ancient Silk Route in the Linze and Sunan counties of the Gansu Province is known as the largest and the most typical. The massive piece of art spans more than 400 sq kms. The unusual colors of the rocks are the result of red sandstone and mineral deposits being laid down over 24 million years. The best display of colors is just after the monsoons during September – October.
The Hill of Seven Colors, Argentina
‘Hill of seven colors’ from Purmamarca, Jujuy province, Argentina
Hill of Seven Colors or Cerro de los Siete Colores in Jujuy province Argentina offers a fantastic contrast of land colors and formations. The different colors correspond to different kinds of minerals, formed during the cretaceous period, 65 millions of years ago after the dinosaurs extinction. The region is also famous for the well-preserved Inca civilization ruins. A trip to this part of Argentina lying close to the borders with Chile and Bolivia would be a photography treat for sure!
Hornocal mountain range, Argentina
Hornocal mountain range
Lying about 80 kms south of the Hill of Seven colors is another wonder-valley – Quebrada de Humahuaca, in the same Jujuy province of north-western Argentina. With its surreal array of shapes and colors, the Serrania del Hornocal (or Hornocal Mountain Range) is perhaps the most striking of the Quebrada de Humahuaca. This mountain range is characterized by containing eleven colors and the viewpoint (at 4,300 m) allows to observe almost the entire valley. The region is known to have been populated for 10,000 years. It served as a caravan road for the 15th century Inca Empire. The valley is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Painted Hills, Oregon
Painted Hills
The Painted Hills lie deep in the canyons of Wheeler County, one of Oregon’s most remote and least-settled areas. The hills form one of the three units of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument in the US state of Oregon. The area has been named after the colorful layers of its hills corresponding to various geological eras, formed when the region was an ancient river floodplain. The hills proudly wear their geological history in vivid stripes of color accentuated by the sunlight. The colors vary according to the position of the sun, so it’s worth visiting the park in different lighting conditions.
Landmannalaugar Mountains, Iceland
Colors of Landmannalaugar, Iceland
Situated in the highlands of Iceland, Landmannalaugar area is a popular tourist destination. Unfortunately there are very few summer days when the region is clear to offer expansive views of the multi-colored rhyolite mountains and lava fields. Landmannalaugar is a region of young and active volcanos where rare rhyolite rocks are responsible for kaleidoscopic hills and plains. A part of the Fjallabak Nature Reserve, Landmannalaugar is open for tourists from around June through to late September. The place is virtually only possible to reach on a 4WD vehicle but definitely an experience that lingers…
Colored Mountains, Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan mountains
A part of the dry Alay Valley, you can cross these mountains on your way to Lenin Peak in Kyrgyzstan – considered one of the easiest 7,000 m peaks in the world to climb. The mountains of Kyrgyzstan are geologically young, so that the physical terrain is marked by sharply uplifted peaks separated by deep valleys that exude vibrant colors courtesy pigmented rocks.
More colorful wonders of nature coming up…
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