Río Tinto

About this place

The Río Tinto is a river in southwest Spain that rises in the Sierra Morena of Andalusia and flows south to the Gulf of Cádiz at Huelva, about 64 km northwest of Seville in a straight line at the mining area. Its name means coloured river in Spanish. The river has a unique red and orange colour from its extremely acidic chemistry, with very high levels of iron and heavy metals, and keeps its colour for about 50 km. It is about 100 km long and lies in the Iberian Pyrite Belt, rich in ores. The area has seen about 5,000 years of mining, yielding copper, silver, gold and other minerals. Dark red water runs between rocks streaked orange, yellow and white, forming small cascades and pools that mirror the blue sky, like a scene from another planet. Tree-covered hills surround the river, and the water shifts from blood-red to orange with the light and depth. Visitors view the river from its banks and bridges and visit the Riotinto Mining Park and its museum on the area's mining history. The water is highly acidic, unfit for swimming or drinking, so it is best not to touch it.