Geothermal colours

 

This photograph captures a wonderful complexity where the colours reveal an interplay of geological and biological processes. Rust-toned oranges, likely indicative of iron oxide deposits, blend with the brighter yellows and oranges produced by thermophilic bacteria and algae, thriving in the mineral-rich, hot water. These colorful streaks flow across precipitated minerals, such as silica. Patches of green at the periphery suggest a cooler transition zone.