Vinicunca: the rainbow mountain that attracts more and more tourists to Peru

Montaña de Siete Colores or the Rainbow Mountain! At 5, 200 meters from the sea, Vinicunca has been one of the fastest growing tourist destinations in recent years since its discovery in 2013.

Believe it or not, but it - or at least why we can see it - is one of the very rare positive consequences of global warming. That's right; Until 5 years ago, the Seven Colors Mountain was probably covered in snow, according to locals, so there was no way to know what its surface was like.

Harmful as the effects of the greenhouse effect are, the discovery of the mountain has been stimulating for the economy of the region where it is located in Cusco, in the Andes Mountains - a town on the way to Machu Picchu.

Tourism is accelerated due to the movement up the mountain, generating about 500 jobs, as tour guides, who take travelers on walks and horseback riding.

Draw a rainbow!

Product of a series of minerals in the region, the mountain lies in a volcanic chain located on the Nasca tectonic plates.

The striking color mix that makes the earth practically striped comes from elements such as iron oxide rust, which forms red; iron sulfide, which creates orange and yellow; and chlorite, which results in turquoise and some shades of green.

In addition, when several of these mix, they form other shades, making Vinicunca a true spectacle of nature. And while the nuances vary with the amount of light and shadow, the view is almost always spectacular.

Geographers believe it is not the only colorful mountain. The difference is that the others in the region probably have their composition protected by vegetation layers and have not suffered so much the effects of erosion.

It is almost as if Vinicunca's clothing had been removed and now she is without the protective layer - which, for tourists, is a real eye candy!