The Rio Tinto, in Andalusia, Spain, gets its strange color from dissolving iron deposits in the highly acidic water. Beginning more than 5,000 years ago, this area was mined for gold, silver, and other treasures. And archeological evidence suggests that about 3,000 years ago this may have been the site of King Solomon’s legendary mines. Scientists believe that pollution from the mines contributed to the extreme ecological conditions we see in the Rio Tinto today.
The otherworldly red river
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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Siblings Day
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Bidding summer adieu
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Okefenokee Swamp
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Dressed to impress
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Umschreibung by Olafur Eliasson in Munich
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North Sea at sunset, Norddorf, Germany
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An historic forest
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Noctilucent clouds
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Everglades National Park turns 75
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Blue-footed booby, Galápagos Islands
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National Lighthouse Day
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International Beaver Day
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Corjuem Fort in Goa, India
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National Public Lands Day
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World Laughter Day—it s a hoot
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Bonaventure Cemetery, Savannah, Georgia
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Halfway Day
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Perseid meteor shower over Oregon
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I ll call for pen and ink
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Exploring the Pearl of the Atlantic
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Frankenstein Friday
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Venture into a prehistoric gallery of art
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Point Reyes National Seashore
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Totally Thames Festival, London
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To Roswell, and beyond!
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Hay, what s up?
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Zion National Park, Utah
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Hippo family in Chobe National Park, Botswana
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Badlands National Parks 45th anniversary
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Where do those colors come from?