Channels of the Rio Tinto in Spain
© Oscar Diez Martinez/Minden Picture
Treasures of the Rio Tinto. The otherworldly red river
The Rio Tinto, in Andalusia, Spain, gets its strange colour 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.But if you think nothing could live in such a desolate place, you'd be wrong. The Rio Tinto is home to unusual microorganisms that feed on its toxic mix and may also contribute to the river’s otherworldly environment. NASA even dispatched a team here to study the surface below Rio Tinto because it closely resembles the subsurface on that other 'red' destination—Mars. By analyzing the peculiar bacteria of the Rio Tinto, NASA hopes to advance its search for extraterrestrial life.
Related Images
Arctic redpoll nest in Lapland, Finland
Clusters of dark purple grapes hanging on a vine in Penticton, B.C.
A satellite image of the Pingualuit asteroid impact crater in Quebec
Gewurztraminer grapes on vine at autumn harvest in Okanagan Valley, B.C.
Hardened maple syrup on a wooden stick sitting on ice, Elmira, Ontario
Close up image of colourful Indian corn kernels in Mississauga, ON
Coloured corn on the cobs at ByWard Market, Ottawa
Blackbird eating a crab apple in a garden in Wiltshire, United Kingdom
Bing Today Images
