Rainbow mountain may sound unearthly and dream- like, but luckily it’s real. It is situated near Cusco in Peru. Earlier, the Rainbow mountain was not a frequently visited place. It only became popular from one famous Instagram post back in 2015. Incredibly just 4 years later it has become one of Peru’s most recognizable attractions! It's real name is Vinicunca, but it is called by many names like "colored mountain", "mountain of seven colors" or "Montaña de Siete Colores" and of course "Rainbow Mountain".
Here are some amazing facts about this natural wonder:
1. Global Warming Unveiled Rainbow Mountain
Around 2012, locals discovered Rainbow Mountain, and this happened thanks to global warming. The snow on the top of the mountain melted, revealing it's beautiful colors. Earlier, nobody (or very few people) had seen the Rainbow Mountain.
2. The colors of the Rainbow Mountain is due to deposition of 14 different minerals.
The mountain is striped with colors ranging from turquoise to lavender to maroon and gold. You may see superbright and photoshopped images on social media, but the real sight isn't dull either. The main colours people notice on the mountain are yellow, pink, white, turqoise, brown and red. Each of these colours is caused by a specific combination of mineral deposits. The red colors are from the presence of iron oxide, the green colors are from chlorite, and the white colors are from sandstone. Some of the minerals even mix together to form unique colors on the mountains.
3. The Colors of Rainbow Mountains Change.
Like other famous natural features around the world, the colors of the Rainbow Mountain change according to the time of the day, and the weather. Sunny clear days are best for viewing the Rainbow Mountain of Peru. That is when the colors are brighter. If there is bad weather or overcast skies, the colors will be darker and not as vibrant.
4. The weather of the Rainbow Mountain is cold and can change rapidly.
The mountain sits at an elevation of 6,384 meters.Temperatures can easily drop below 0°C in Rainbow Mountain, and the average temperature lies between 0°C and 19°C all year round. The weather is also very unpredictable. In 1 hour, it can change from snow to rain to being sunny again
5. Unique Wildlife of Rainbow Mountain
Besides seeing the llamas, camel's fluffy cousins, in Rainbow Mountain you can also see alpacas (which are smaller than llamas) and vicuñas (they resemble llamas but have less fur). Foxes, skunks, huallatas, partridges, deer, vizcachas, condors or even osqollos can also be spotted. You will also encounter local Ausangate people herding alpacas and llamas. This is one of the last solely high-altitude shepherding communities left in the world.
Now you know why Rainbow mountain has been listed in National Geographic’s “Top 100 Places To Visit Before You Die”. Would you like to visit it?
Learn about many more new places and its unique life with Wanderquest travel boxes. Wanderquest activity boxes are loaded with fascinating facts and folklore about different places and their people. For more information call or Watsapp us @ 9374523926 or write to us at care@wanderquest.in
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