The Rio Tinto, in Andalusia, Spain, gets its strange color from dissolving iron deposits in the highly acidic water. Beginning more than 5,000 years ago, this area was mined for gold, silver, and other treasures. And archeological evidence suggests that about 3,000 years ago this may have been the site of King Solomon’s legendary mines. Scientists believe that pollution from the mines contributed to the extreme ecological conditions we see in the Rio Tinto today.
The otherworldly red river
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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World Art Day
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International Moon Day
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World Jellyfish Day
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Earth Day and National Park Week
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Landscape Architecture Month
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White Sands National Park, New Mexico
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Endangered Species Day
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Endangered Species Day
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Darwin Day
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Lake Bled, Slovenia
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Eurasian red squirrel in Northumberland, England
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English National Ballet performing The Nutcracker
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Anshun Bridge, Chengdu, China
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Après-ski in the Dolomites
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Almond trees in full bloom, California
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Celebrating the first day of spring
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A place fit for the gods
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International Day for Monuments and Sites
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Frankenstein Friday
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National Mushroom Month
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Roman theater of Cartagena, Spain
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Here’s why landmarks are going dark
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Here, fishy!
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Tassili n’Ajjer, Sahara, Algeria
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National Park Week begins
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Nha Phu Bay, Nha Trang, Vietnam
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Carnival of Venice
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Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, China
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Watch your step
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Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

