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00:19Residents and visitors on Iran's Hormuz Island woke up to an astonishing sight after heavy rainfall swept across the region.
00:27Large stretches of the island's coastline appeared to turn blood-red, with crimson-colored sand and shallow coastal waters creating an eerie, almost alien landscape.
00:39Images and videos of the phenomenon quickly spread online, drawing global attention and amazement.
00:45The dramatic color change was most visible along the beaches and erosion channels, where rainwater streamed down from the island's hills and poured into the sea.
00:55While the sight looked unsettling to some, scientists stressed that the event is completely natural and temporary.
01:02So, what caused it?
01:04Hormuz Island sits on iron-rich geological formations formed by ancient volcanic activity and salt domes.
01:13When heavy rain falls, it washes through soil and rocks that contain high concentrations of iron oxide, particularly hematite.
01:22This mineral dissolves into fine particles and is carried downhill by runoff, staining the sand and shallow water, deep shades of red and rust.
01:32Hematite is the same iron oxide responsible for the reddish appearance of Mars.
01:38When exposed to moisture, hematite-rich soils oxidize more rapidly, intensifying their color.
01:44As these particles reach the coastline, they briefly transform the beaches into a striking red landscape.
01:51The effect usually fades once rainfall stops and tides disperse the sediments.
01:57Experts say the phenomenon poses no danger to people or marine life, though long-term erosion can slowly reshape the island's surface.
02:06Often called the Rainbow Island of the Persian Gulf, Hormuz is known for its colorful terrain and mineral wealth, including ochre, gypsum, and iron ore, materials that have long been used by locals as natural pigments.
02:20For a short time after the rain, science and nature combine to turn Hormuz's coast into a vivid, real-world display of planetary geology.
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