Issue link: https://owlkids.uberflip.com/i/1536420
PHOTOS: ADOBE STOCK (RAINBOW MOUNTAIN); GETTYISTOCK (MOERAKI BOULDERS) RAINBOW MOUNTAIN Its Stripes Get Hype WHERE? Peru Towering tall in South America's Andes Mountains, Rainbow Mountain stands out—but not just because of its height. It's full of colourful stripes! Long ago, the land here was covered by flowing water. The water carried tiny particles from minerals in a variety of colours—red or pink clay, white sandstone, and green copper. Over time, these mineral particles dropped to the bottom of the water as layers of sediment. The Earth's shifting crust eventually pushed these mineral layers up into mountain peaks. The result? Stunning stripes! The Indigenous Andean Peoples believe this mountain range is the home of powerful spirits. They hold celebrations to honour the spirits with music, dance, and prayer. As Rainbow Mountain has become more popular, the government of Peru has made rules to protect it. There is no mining near the mountain, and only small groups can visit at a time. MOERAKI BOULDERS They Appeared as Spheres WHERE? New Zealand A beach on the coast of New Zealand boasts an impressive collection of perfectly round rocks. The biggest ones are taller than most adults. A few of these huge rocks have developed cracks, which makes them look like tortoise shells. Geologists believe the Moeraki Boulders were created when mud or clay formed into soft rocks around hard cores of sediment. Eventually, the sea eroded the layers of mud, leaving behind the smooth, round rock cores. The Indigenous M ori Peoples tell a story about their ancestors sailing a canoe that tipped over in the ocean. They believe the Moeraki Boulders are food baskets and gourds that spilled from the canoe and washed onto the beach. Rainbow Mountain is 5,200 m (17,060 ft.) above sea level. That's almost as high as 10 of Toronto's CN Towers stacked on top of each other! A similar collection of round boulders can be found in California, US. The name of this stretch of coastline is— wait for it—Bowling Ball Beach!