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.
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"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". 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. Now that you have arrived at the beautiful Rainbow Island, you need to stay for a couple of days to visit all the beauties of this place."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.
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By arriving at either two places, you just need to purchase a ticket for a ferry and ride on the water to reach your destination. You can go there by train, bus or flight but, traveling to Qeshm is more limited since you should only book a flight. You have got more options if you want to go to Bandar Abbas first.
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To get to Rainbow Island, you can choose either Bandar Abbas or Qeshm as your stop. Therefore, it is time to plan a perfect tour to the south of Iran, where you can explore this magical land and meet warm-hearted people who make your trip exceptional. You can also have easy access to Bandar Abbas and Qeshm Island when you are heading to Rainbow Island, AKA Hormuz. The island is located in the Persian Gulf, where rich history and culture lie. Located in the south of Iran, Rainbow Island is the adequate name for gorgeous Hormuz Island.