Rainfall this week on Iran's Hormuz Island has briefly transformed the coastline of the famed Red Beach into a striking natural scene. Red soil flowed into the sea and turned the water shades of deep red. The beach is known for its vivid red sand and cliffs. They are created by high concentrations of iron oxide. The phenomenon regularly attracts tourists, photographers and social media attention. Hormuz Island has become a popular destination for visitors drawn to its unusual landscapes. The red soil is locally known as gelak. It's also used in cosmetics and pigments.

  • Updated

A man looks out at the sea in the city of La Guaira, Venezuela, where the nation's flag flies, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

  • Updated

The INEOS Energy's Siri platform seen from a helicopter above the North Sea, Denmark, Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/James Brooks)