Rare ‘rainbow clouds’ seen in Siberia

Posted by Anita Froneman on 6 January 2020

One lucky photographer was in for a treat when she stepped outside on a cold December morning. Svetlana Kazina lives in the Altai Mountains in Siberia and came across a rare sighting of iridescent clouds over Belukha mountain, Siberia’s highest peak at 4,506 metres (14,783 ft).

‘The wind at this height was so strong that the cloud “lace” changed every second,’ Kazina told Mystical Raven.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Svetlana Kazina (Ветка) (@svetlana_kazina_altai) on

This optical phenomenon is caused by minuscule ice crystals in the air, which cause light to be diffracted. This always occurs inside a cloud and appears in the general proximity of the sun or moon. The result is a display of mesmerizing colours within clouds and a spellbinding light show.

The Altai mountain range in Southern Siberia draws nature lovers with its striking scenery and is fondly known as ‘Siberia’s Switzerland’.

Image: Instagram/Svetlana Kazina






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