Rainfall creates crimson spectacle at beach on Iran’s Hormuz Island | Iran
Rainfall on the Iranian island of Hormuz briefly transformed its Red Beach coastline into a striking natural scene this week, as red earth flowed into the sea and turned the water a deep red.
The beach is known for its bright red sand and cliffs, created by high concentrations of iron oxide.
When rain falls, like Tuesday, streams of red dirt flow toward the shore, coloring the beach and surrounding waters and creating a stark contrast with the blue waters of the Persian Gulf.
The phenomenon regularly attracts the attention of tourists, photographers and social networks. Beyond its visual appeal, red earth – known locally as gelak – is exported in limited quantities and used in the production of cosmetics, pigments and some traditional products.
The island of Hormuz lies in the Strait of Hormuz, where the Persian Gulf meets the Gulf of Oman, approximately 1,080 km south of the Iranian capital, Tehran. Rainfall is relatively rare on the island and occurs mainly in winter and early spring.
