Rainfall on Iran’s Hormuz Island briefly transformed the coastline of its famous Red Beach this week. The red soil, rich in iron oxide, flowed into the sea and changed the water to a deep red color. Red Beach is known for its bright red sand and cliffs. When it rains, red soil streams flow to the shore and create a sharp contrast with the blue waters of the Persian Gulf. This rare event happened on Tuesday and attracted tourists, photographers, and social media fans. The red soil, called gelak locally, is also used to make cosmetics, pigments, and traditional items. Hormuz Island is located in the strait of Hormuz, where the Persian Gulf meets the Gulf of Oman. It lies about 670 miles south of Tehran. Rainfall on the island is rare and mostly occurs during winter and early spring.