Red Snow
( 2005-10-17 )

Many a Chinese mountaineer and expert have found some red spots sprinkled over the boundless ice and snowy land 5,000 meters above sea level in the Himalayan Mountains. Many have wondered what exactly produces such a picturesque landscape.

As a matter of fact, the so-called "red snow" is not real snow, but a kind of algae that grows on high mountains. The algae contain some pigments and are able to conduct photosynthesis, and their color varies with the ratio of pigments accordingly. These strongly cold-resistant algae are concentrated on the high mountains in very cold areas.

The algae have survived in extreme conditions in the Himalayas, decorating the mysterious snow-covered land.