21st Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Footprints in color

A 100 km river called Rio Tinto, in Huelva, southern Spain. The color of the river is like wine, hence its name, and this color is derived from minerals such as pyrite or iron + copper sulfide. The bacteria cause oxidation of the minerals and the acidity of the river is caused by sulfuric acid.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 06.2022
Date Uploaded: 11.2023
Photo Location: Huelva, Spain
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
Copyright: © Juan Garcia Lucas