Hormuz Island's Red Beaches Feature Iron-Rich Soil Used Locally in Cuisine and Crafts

Hormuz Island in the Strait of Hormuz is renowned for its vivid red beaches, colored by iron oxide-rich soil known locally as gelak. This mineral-rich soil not only creates striking crimson landscapes, especially during rainfall when red runoff colors the shore and sea, but also holds cultural significance, being used in local cuisine, pigments, and traditional crafts. The island attracts travelers and scientists intrigued by its unique geology and visual spectacle.