![rainbow island iran rainbow island iran](https://blog.termehtravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Salt-Mountain.jpg)
Similarly, in the island’s south-west is Rainbow Valley, a stunning display of multi-hued soil and vividly coloured mountains in shades of red, purple, yellow, ochre and blue. "After having spent in this valley, you are bound to feel much more invigorated, which is why the valley is also called the Energy Valley." "The rock salt is known to release immense positive energy," he told me. Locals believe that the salt possesses the healing power to soak up and release any negative energy, and Kay advised me to take my shoes off so my feet touched the salt dome. Extending more than a kilometre, its pale caves and sharp-edged walls are covered by shimmering salt crystals that look like the giant columns of a marble palace. In the island's west there's a spectacular salt mountain known as the Goddess of Salt. Apart from its culinary usages, the red soil is also used local artists, dyeing, creation of ceramics and cosmetics."īeyond the ruby-red mountain, there's plenty else to explore on Hormuz. "This sauce is called soorakh and is spread on flatbread as it is almost cooked.
![rainbow island iran rainbow island iran](https://adventuresoflilnicki.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Red-Beach-Hormuz-Island-Iran-5.jpg)
"The red soil is used as a sauce," explained Maryam Peykani, Farzad's wife. Used as a spice, it lends an earthy flavour to curries and goes perfectly with the local bread called tomshi, which means "a handful of something".
![rainbow island iran rainbow island iran](https://t1.thpservices.com/previewimage/gallil/33b1f11ec5a2228a1e47881ebf28ca69/lkf-71207825.jpg)
Not only is it a valuable mineral for industrial purposes, it also plays an important role in local cuisine. The red soil on the mountain I was standing near, called gelack, is caused by haematite, an iron oxide thought to be derived from the island's volcanic rocks. Locals believe that the salt found at the Goddess of Salt mountain has the power to release any negative energy. It's also home to what's thought to be the only edible mountain in the world, which Kay was encouraging me to try. In fact, Hormuz is often called the "rainbow island" because of the spectrum of chromatic hues that it exudes. This geological makeup has resulted in ochre-stained streams, crimson-hued beaches and enchanting salt caves. She added that these thick layers of salt, many kilometres below the land, are actually present across much of the Persian Gulf area. Since the salt is buoyant, over time, it has risen through cracks in the overlying rocks to reach the surface and form salt domes," said Dr Goodenough. "Over the last 500 million years, the salt layers were buried deeply by younger layers of volcanic sediment. These layers gradually collided and interlayered with mineral-rich volcanic sediment in the area, causing the formation of the colourful landmass. Nearly every inch of Hormuz Island's 42 awe-invoking sq km imparts a story of its formation.Īccording to Dr Kathryn Goodenough, principal geologist at the British Geological Survey who has previously worked in Iran, hundreds of millions of years ago, shallow seas formed thick layers of salt around the margins of the Persian Gulf. Set 8km off Iran's coast amid the murky blue waters of the Persian Gulf, Hormuz is a teardrop-shaped shimmering salt dome embedded with layers of shale, clay and iron-rich volcanic rocks that glow in dazzling shades of red, yellow and orange due to the more than 70 minerals found here. I approached his suggestion with some trepidation, as I was yet to understand this mysterious, mineral-laden landscape. "You should get a taste of this soil," said Farzad Kay, my tour guide on southern Iran's Hormuz Island, as we stood at the foot of a ruby-red mountain that loomed majestically over the shoreline, engulfing the beach and waves in a crimson shadow.