El Valle Rojo: a jewel of colours in the Peruvian Andes
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El Valle Rojo: a jewel of colours in the Peruvian Andes

by Maxime Grandin, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland

In the heart of the Peruvian Andes, a few hours' drive from Cuzco and approximately 5000 m above the sea level, the Valle Rojo humbles the fortunate visitor with its extremely vivid colours. The deep hues of red and green are produced by iron oxides and chlorite layers, respectively.