Interesting Photo of the Day: The Painted Dunes

Interesting Photos

Volcanic eruptions are a terrible thing to experience. The ashes, boiling hot lava, gases, and earthquakes that accompany it are all pretty scary. However, in the long run, the geographical changes that a volcanic eruption brings about can be pretty amazing. This is especially true when it comes to the mineral deposits and the changes in land structure that are very interesting to see. One of the finest examples has to be The Painted Dunes of Lassen Volcanic National Park in California. As the name suggests, the place looks like a painting. Photographer Ben Haller took the following image of the place and it’s pretty surreal:

“The Painted Dunes in Lassen Volcanic National Park, California” by Ben Haller (Via Reddit. Click image to see full size.)

This image gets more and more interesting the longer you look at it. The immediate feature that you notice in the image is the landform. It’s unlike any typical landform that we come across on a daily basis. The dune-like structure is the result of the hot lava from the volcano melting anything that cross its path. Further, the interesting patterns on the ground which are results of mineral deposits add to the brilliance of this image. This is what makes the place appear like an oil painting.

It has also helped that Haller took the photo while the sun was low. The shadows have beautifully added depth and structure to the image. If it weren’t for the trees, you might think that the image was of some other planet.

Have you had the chance to visit these dunes? Feel free to share your experience if you’ve been there.