Peapix

  • Bing Gallery
  • Extension
Peapix
Bing Gallery
Extension
  • United States
    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. United States
  3. 2023
  4. July 13
  5. Zhangye Danxia National Geopark, Gansu province, China
arrow_back_ios arrow_forward_ios Zhangye Danxia National Geopark, Gansu province, China

July 13, 2023

Zhangye Danxia National Geopark, Gansu province, China

© TONNAJA/Getty Image

Walking a rocky rainbow. International Rock Day

International Rock Day, on July 13, celebrates these hardy heroes, which have played a big part in human history since at least the Stone Age. They served as humanity's first tools and as nature's journals, protecting ancient fossils and documenting changes caused by geological processes.

Our homepage image shows Zhangye National Geopark's Rainbow Mountains in China, an incredible landscape created over millions of years. Those colorful layers are formed of sedimentary sandstone rock. Iron oxide gave the rock its predominately rusty hue, while other oxides tinted the various layers brown, yellow, and green. Sandstone and minerals that were once layered on top of each other were lifted and distorted by tectonic movement, revealing those colorful stripes. And that is not the end of this geological tale. This unique landscape continues to change, as wind and water erosion sculpts new pillars and ravines. No matter what your favorite category of rock is—metamorphic, sedimentary, or igneous—rocks of every kind helped build the world we live in today.

landscape painting canyon mountain valley nature desert

Related Images

Zion National Park, UtahZion National Park, Utah
Hot air balloons over Göreme Historical National Park in Cappadocia, TürkiyeHot air balloons over Göreme Historical National Park in Cappadocia, Türkiye
Kachina Bridge, Natural Bridges National Monument, UtahKachina Bridge, Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah
Sandstone formations in the badlands near Caineville, UtahSandstone formations in the badlands near Caineville, Utah
Red rock formations, Sedona, ArizonaRed rock formations, Sedona, Arizona
Desert bighorn sheep in Valley of Fire State Park, NevadaDesert bighorn sheep in Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada
Paro Taktsang, a Buddhist monastery in BhutanParo Taktsang, a Buddhist monastery in Bhutan
Sandstone hoodoos, Bryce Canyon National Park, UtahSandstone hoodoos, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Today on Bing

Fairy chimneys and cave dwellings in Cappadocia, Türkiye

Fairy chimneys and cave dwellings in Cappadocia, Türkiye

Jul 13, 2024
Basalt columns of Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland

Basalt columns of Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland

Jul 13, 2022
Moose crossing a pond below Mount Moran, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Moose crossing a pond below Mount Moran, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Jul 13, 2021
The Hoh Rainforest in Olympic National Park, Washington state

The Hoh Rainforest in Olympic National Park, Washington state

Jul 13, 2020
Sailors begin their journey from Chicago to Mackinac Island, Michigan, during the Race to Mackinac

Sailors begin their journey from Chicago to Mackinac Island, Michigan, during the Race to Mackinac

Jul 13, 2019

Related Tags

valley nature canyon mountain outdoor landscape sky cloud rock tree plant hillside desert stone hill escarpment badlands overlooking distance cave
Share photo
Share
Pin
Tweet
Line
  • © 2025 Peapix.com
  • API
  • App
  • Privacy
The images are provided for wallpaper use only.