Fact Check

Are These Rainbow Mountains Real?

An image purportedly showing a rainbow-colored mountain range in California was digitally manipulated.

by Dan Evon, Published Aug. 18, 2017



Claim:
A photograph shows a rainbow-colored mountain range in California.
Rating:
False

About this rating


On 15 August 2017, the Amazing Photos in the World Facebook page posted a photograph purportedly showing a rainbow-colored mountain range in "Dead Valley National Park" in California. The digitally-altered photograph, of California's Death Valley National Park, was actually the work of an artist. 

Digital artist Ramzy Masri created the image, which he originally posted to his Instagram account on 7 February 2017 as part of his #SpectrumEdit series:

 
 


 

 

You're off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, So... get on your way! My #spectrumedit series reimagines photography from some of my favorite accounts. @chriscreature has an incredible feed full of dreamy, magical moments like this one. ?⛰

A post shared by Ramzy Masri (@space.ram) on Feb 7, 2017 at 6:28pm PST

 

In this case, Masri digitally rainbow colors to a photograph taken by Christopher Hainey:

 
 


 

 

?

A post shared by christopher hainey (@chriscreature) on Apr 29, 2017 at 8:58am PDT

 

Although this image of a rainbow-colored mountain is fake, the world does have some colorful mountain ranges. Part of Ausangate, a mountain in the Peruvian Andes, is often referred to as the "Rainbow Mountains" due to its colorful appearance. Some were apparently unimpressed by nature's beauty, however, as a digitally enhanced version of these mountains was also circulated on social media. 


By Dan Evon

Dan Evon is a former writer for Snopes.


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