Peapix

  • Bing Gallery
  • Extension
Peapix
Bing Gallery
Extension
  • Canada
    All
    Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy Brazil

Bing Gallery

Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy Brazil
  1. Bing Gallery
  2. Canada
  3. 2021
  4. March 05
  5. Mineral-laden water in the Rio Tinto in Minas de Rio Tinto mining area, Huelva province, Andalusia, Spain
arrow_back_ios arrow_forward_ios Mineral-laden water in the Rio Tinto in Minas de Rio Tinto mining area, Huelva province, Andalusia, Spain

March 05, 2021

Mineral-laden water in the Rio Tinto in Minas de Rio Tinto mining area, Huelva province, Andalusia, Spain

© David Santiago Garcia/Getty Image

Reflecting on one of the world’s strangest rivers

If you like your landscapes on the surreal side, then this weird and wonderful river in the Andalusia region of southwestern Spain should be to your liking. The Rio Tinto (Red River) gets its name from the reddish hue of its water, which contains high levels of iron and sulfur, making it very acidic. This unusual chemical makeup may or may not be a result of the area's long history of mining, which dates back at least 5,000 years. Ancient residents like the Tartessians and Romans dug for copper, silver, gold, as well as the mineral pyrite, commonly referred to as 'fool's gold.' Legend has it that Rio Tinto was the site of the fabled mines of King Solomon.

Because of its extreme acidity, the river and surrounding areas are not only colourful, but also quite different than any other in Spain, with a scarcity of normal plant life in and along the riverbeds. Only a thriving community of unusual microorganisms—classified as extremophiles—can survive the water's acidic mix, by feeding on the minerals alone. The strangeness of Rio Tinto's ecology has even attracted the attention of NASA, which studied the bacteria that have adapted to this highly acidic environment because the conditions resemble those on the surface of Mars.

water abstract map painting

Related Images

Tegallalang terrace farms in Ubud, Bali, IndonesiaTegallalang terrace farms in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Aerial view of terraced rice fields, Yuanyang County, ChinaAerial view of terraced rice fields, Yuanyang County, China
Peacock feathersPeacock feathers
Gamboa Crater, MarsGamboa Crater, Mars
Marshland, Gloucester, MassachusettsMarshland, Gloucester, Massachusetts
Blue-green waters around the Bahamas as seen from the International Space StationBlue-green waters around the Bahamas as seen from the International Space Station
Giant kelp in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, CaliforniaGiant kelp in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, California
A great egret in Everglades National Park, FloridaA great egret in Everglades National Park, Florida

Today on Bing

Cherry trees in full bloom near the Imperial Palace with Tokyo Tower in the background, Tokyo, Japan

Cherry trees in full bloom near the Imperial Palace with Tokyo Tower in the background, Tokyo, Japan

Mar 05, 2023
The island of Mont-Saint-Michel in Normandy, France

The island of Mont-Saint-Michel in Normandy, France

Mar 05, 2022
Saguaro cactus flowers, Coronado National Forest, Arizona

Saguaro cactus flowers, Coronado National Forest, Arizona

Mar 05, 2020
Members of the Wild Red Flame Mardi Gras Indians in New Orleans, Louisiana

Members of the Wild Red Flame Mardi Gras Indians in New Orleans, Louisiana

Mar 05, 2019
Seattle Central Library, Seattle, Washington

Seattle Central Library, Seattle, Washington

Mar 05, 2018
A glasswing butterfly perched on a leaf

A glasswing butterfly perched on a leaf

Mar 05, 2017

Related Tags

abstract painting reef art water invertebrate map pattern drawing nature clam mollusk text aerial reflection bird gallinaceous bird phasianid animal coelenterate
Share photo
Share
Pin
Tweet
Line
Download 4K Ultra HD
Download 1920x1080
  • © 2023 Peapix.com
  • API
  • App
  • Privacy
The images are provided for wallpaper use only.