66 Photos of our Rainbow Planet

We live in a beautiful world filled with wonders both natural and cultural. Our planet also a colorful place to live with a great variety of hues and shades .

From the dusty rouge of Australia’s Red Centre to the calming blues of the Aegean, the earth’s color spectrum is vast and varied. We take a look at a tiny piece of the picture with these 66 photos of our rainbow planet.

Red

Australia‘s Red Centre, at the southern edge of the Northern Territory, really is the heart of the country.

Home to the iconic Uluru, this is the classic Australian Outback. Explore Alice Springs, Kings Canyon and Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park. Ride a camel through the desert, fall asleep under the masses of stars or learn about the indigenous Aboriginal culture.

Watch out for wildlife at Uluru. Photo by Graeme Churchard

Uluru at sunset. Photo by Richard Fisher

Ululru from the south side. Photo by Paul Arps

Orange

From one desert to another, Dune 45 is much more exciting than its numerical name would suggest. Found in Namibia‘s Namib Desert, Dune 45 gets its distinctive orange hue from sands blown in from the Orange River.

Standing at over 558 feet tall, it is the most famous of the dunes in the Sossusvlei area thanks in part to its convenient road-side location.

If orange is your color, head to the Netherlands for Koningsdag, the most orange of days. Koningsdag marks the King’s birthday on April 27 and nowhere celebrates this day quite so well as the city of Amsterdam where hundreds of thousands of revellers head out into the city’s streets, squares and even the canals in their finest Dutch orange.

Dune 45, Namibia. Photo by Rick McCharles

Dune 45, Namibia. Photo by s9-4pr

Dune 45, Namibia. Photo by Rick McCharles

Queen’s Day 2011, Amsterdam. Photo by kerryinlondon

Queen’s Day 2009, Amsterdam. Photo by Riza Nugrah

Queen’s Day 2011, Amsterdam. Photo by spotter_nl

Yellow

Shwedagon Pagoda, Shwedagon Zedi Daw, Great Dagon Pagoda, Golden Pagoda – whatever you call it this 325-metre tall gilded pagoda and stupa in Yangon, Myanmar is an incredible sight.

The most important pagoda for Burmese Buddhists, according to local legend, the Shwedagon Pagoda has been around for more than 2,600 years and is said to hold eight of Lord Gautama Buddha’s hairs.

In the long hot days of summer, fields upon fields of sunflowers open up along the backroads of Tuscany, Italy. Introduced to Italy in the 18th century, girasole (Italian for sunflower) are harvested for their oil.

Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, Myanmar. Photo by Paul Arps

Reflection of Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, Myanmar. Photo by Paul Arps

Tuscan sunflowers. Photo by Gabriele Cantini

Sunflower in Tuscany. Photo by Giovanni

Tuscan sunflowers at sunset. Photo by Gabriele Cantini

Green

When it comes to the color green there are two emerald isles – Ireland and New Zealand – with both countries home to rolling green hills, farmland and forest.

Green also holds a special cultural significance in both nations: in Ireland with the shamrock and in New Zealand with carved pounamu (Maori for jade).

Sunrise over Te Waewae Bay. Photo by Tomas Sobek

Fern certain in Waimangu Volcanic Valley. Photo by Strange Ones

Fern in NZ’s Far North. Photo by Abri le Roux

Pounamu (jade) necklace. Photo by Sarang/Wikimedia Commons

Forest in the Burren, Co Clare, Ireland. Photo by IvanWalsh.com

Feeling lucky? The Shamrock. Photo by Zach Dischne

The Dingle peninsula, co. Kerry, Ireland. Photo by Giuseppe Milo

Annascaul Lake, Dingle, Ireland. Photo by Barbara Walsh

Blue

The blue of the sky, the blue of the sea, the blue of the rooftops on whitewashed stone houses – the islands that make up Greece‘s Cyclades really know how to put together a color scheme. The most famous of the group is Santorini – a must if you want a little sunshine with your azure.

Founded in 1471, the village of Chefchaouen in northwest Morocco is an oasis of blue-rinsed buildings, famous for its handcrafted wares including goat cheese and woolen goods. From its home in the Rif Mountains, Chefchaouen attracts an increasing number of travelers every summer who are drawn to its colorful narrow streets and otherworldly vibe.

Blue roofed church, Santorini. Photo by Glen Scarborough

Blue roofed church and bells, Santorini. Photo by momo

Village of Oia, Santorini. Photo by palindrome6996

View from Santorini to the volcano Thera. Photo by Domenico Salvagnin

Santorini church. Photo by Arian Zwegers

Black cat in the alleys of Chefchaouen, Morocco. Photo by Mário Tomé

Young girl in the streets of Chefchaouen, Morocco. Photo by bachmont

Clothing for sale in Chefchaouen, Morocco. Photo by YoTuT

Chefchaouen, Morocco from above. Photo by reibai

Children run through the streets in Chefchaouen, Morocco. Photo by James Hadfield

Purple

Every year from June to August the lavender fields of Provence, France bloom in a fragrant burst of vibrant purple.

Used for centuries in cosmetics and cuisine, lavender honey and desserts are a must-try.

For the true lavender-lover, the Provence Tourist Board has put together a map of all the key lavender-related attractions including distilleries, a museum and plenty of breathtaking scenery on route.

Lavender between Valensole and Moustiers-Sainte-Marie. Provence, France. Photo by decar66

Lavender fields, Provence, France. Photo by François Philipp

Notre-Dame de Sénanque in Gordes, Provence, France. Photo by decar66

Lavender between Valensole and Moustiers-Sainte-Marie. Provence, France. Photo by decar66

Pink

In Kenya‘s rift valley hundreds of thousands of pink flamingos line the shore of Lake Nakuru. The flamingos are drawn to the lake’s abundant algae supply and at times their numbers can exceed one million.

The color of springtime in Japan is undoubtedly pink. From late March to early May, the county’s sakura blossoms come to life and blanket the nation in a delicate pastel pink hue.

Flamingos on Lake Nakuru, Kenya. Photo by Xiaojun Deng

Flamingos from above on Lake Nakuru, Kenya. Photo by Alan Green

Flamingos on Lake Nakuru, Lake Nakuru National Park, Kenya. Photo by Paul Mannix

Enjoying ‘Hanami’ – the Japanese custom of flower viewing. Photo by coniferconifer

Beautiful sakura in Japan. Photo by *嘟嘟嘟*

Cheery blossoms in Nagoya. Photo by Beautiful sakura in Japan. Photo by Emran Kassim

Cherry blossoms in Kyoto. Photo by Ryosuke Yagi

White

The massive Wapusk National Park in Manitoba, Canada is a safe haven for polar bears during their summer rest and breeding season. The name Wapusk means “White Bear” in the indigenous Cree language.

Autumn is the best time for polar bear watching, when they gather on the coast and wait for Hudson Bay to freeze over allowing them to go in search of food.

Also keep an eye out for the ridiculously cute arctic fox and arctic hare.

Arctic fox in Wapusk National Park, Manitoba, Canada. Photo by Emma

Polar Bear in Wapusk National Park, Manitoba, Canada. Photo by Emma

Arctic hare in Wapusk National Park, Manitoba, Canada. Photo by Emma

Black

Move over white sand, there’s a new shade in town. Punaluʻu is one of the most famous black sand beaches in Hawaii. Located on Big Island, Panalu’u gets its distinctive coloring from volcanic basalt.

Keep an eye out for endangered hawksbill and green turtles, and don’t forget to watch those bare feet in the summer – ouch!

Punaluʻu County Beach Park, Hawaii. Photo by John Loo

Punaluʻu, Hawaii. Photo by chadh

Punaluʻu black sand beach, Hawaii. Photo by David Wilkinson

Rainbow

Want all your colors in one place – we’ve got you covered!

Cape Town‘s Bo-Kaap is a multi-colored, multi-cultural neighborhood with a rich history, famed for its bright houses and cobbled streets.
Hızır Çavuş Caddesi street in Istanbul‘s traditional Jewish Quarter, Balat, is an increasingly popular tourist destination.
Italy has its fair share of colorful spots such as the Venetian island of Burano, Procida island in the Bay of Naples and the villages of Cinque Terre.
Willemstad harbour in Curaçao is full of charm and color.