As if dissected by a geologist, this eroded cliff displays successive lava flows from a scoria cone over one million years ago. The rock nearest the swirling eddy is black. Then the colors morph into reddish-brown tones followed by bright shades of orange near the top. The cause of this palette’s variations is twofold. One is the concentration of iron and magnesium. The second is the lava rocks contact with air. The minerals oxidize with extended exposure to the elements. In short, they literally rust. This process gives Rábida Island its surreal colorization.
