Located in Gansu province, China, this 300 square kilometer rainbow is part of Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park. The hills and valleys consist of layers of red, blue, emerald green, brown and yellow. Even so, there are no plants or animals found there because of the barren land conditions. In addition to its colorful mountains, Zhangye Danxia also has caves hidden behind hills. Because
of its unique natural conditions, UNESCO's World Heritage Committee
included this mountain in the list of World Heritage Sites in 2010.
This amazing natural phenomenon is an example of petrographic geomorphology formed due to environmental conditions. According
to the Telegraph, the amazing colors of the hills come from red
sandstone and minerals formed since the Cretaceous Period, precisely 24
million years ago. These rock formations then undergo a shift in tectonic plates that also form the Himalayas. Rain
and wind that hit the area for millions of years also contributed to
shaping the niche, valleys and Danxia Zhangye color patterns. It is said that this mountain will display a different color pattern, depending on weather conditions.
Rainbow mountain, a secret geological wonder of China
