Vinicunca by Yiannis Pavlis

Vinicunca by Yiannis Pavlis

Vinicunca, also called Montaña de Siete Colores (Mountain of Seven Colors), is located in the Andes in the Cusco region of Peru.The reason why these colors have formed is because of ice that used to cover the area. When it started to melt, the water mixed with minerals in the ground, turning the earth into the many colors. Red areas are due to rust mixtures, yellows are due to iron sulphide, purples are from goethite or oxidized limonite, and the greens come from chlorite.The entire walk to Rainbow Mountain’s main summit viewpoint takes place at high altitude (starting at around 4,600 metres) and its summit is at 5,200 metres (or 17060 feet ) above sea level

Yiannis Pavlis: Photos