Color In Nature: Landscapes

By evad // April 8, 2008

From the red lava and black rock of newly forming land to the cool gray tundras and frozen lakes, a dynamic range of colors can be seen in landscapes across the globe. Some of the most dramatic colors can be seen in the very same landscape with the changing of the seasons. Pale yellow fields leftover from winter become rich green beds of brightly colored flowers just to become dark fading charcoal hills again in the fall.

Below we are exploring some of these lands filled with rich and absorbent colors created by minerals and climates, like the Pink lakes of Australia with pink salt lands contrasted against gray skies, the Painted Hills of Oregon with layers of peach sediment and rusty volcanic ash, and the tended green farm lands and pastures of Spain and England contrasted against blue skies.

Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii

Photo by andyrs

Established in 1916, Volcanoes National Park holds an incredibly rich diversity of environments that range from the ocean to one of earth's most active volcanoes, Kīlauea, which offers scientist a view of the formation of the Hawaiian islands. The parks also includes Mauna Loa a volcano whose summit reaches 13,6777 feet.

Autumn Landscape, Japan

Photo by fotopakismo

Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, Washington

Photo by andyrs

The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is held annually from April 1st - April 30th and celebrates the first burst of spring color.

Pink Lakes, Victoria, Australia

Photo by andrewfarrington

Painted Hills, Oregon

Photo by andyrs

Painted Hills, part of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, in Wheeler County, Oregon, gets its name from the colorful layers found in the surrounding hills. "The red coloring is laterite soil that formed by floodplain deposits when the area was warm and humid."

Calico Basin, Nevada

Photo by cayusa

La Mancha, Spain

Photo by dsevilla

Monte Albán, Oaxaca, Mexico

Photo by fotopakismo

St Jacob im Rosental, Carinthia

Photo by annia316

East Riding, England

Photo by drsathish

The rolling hills and fields of England are just a small part of the UK's varied geography, which was largely shaped by tectonic movement and glaciation. England's temperate climate and plentiful rainfall all year round make it possible for the beautiful greens.

Fish Farm, Croatia

Photo by shchukin

Chia-yi County, Taiwan

Photo by rla579

Somewhere in Scotland

Photo by mike138

Somewhere in Scotland

Photo by mike138

There are three main divisions to Scotland's geography: The Highlands and Islands made up largely from ancient rocks from the Cambrian and Precambrian eras, the Central Lowlands a rift valley mainly comprising Paleozoic formations, and the Southern Uplands a range of hills 125 miles long, interspersed with broad valleys.

Frozen Lake and Pier

Photo by m_ i_ n _o_ r

Title Photo of Cona Island, Italy by Matteo Cargasacchi

Written by evad

www.colourlovers.comDavid Sommers has been loving color as COLOURlovers' Blog Editor-in-Chief for the past two years. When he's not neck deep in a rainbow he's loving other things with The Post Family (http://thepostfamily.com/), a Chicago-based art blog, artist collective & gallery.