A World Full of Painted Hills

I know there are spectacular "Rainbow Mountains" in China as well as "Painted Hills" in the Badlands of South Dakota. Turkey has some as well. But did you know there are also incredible Painted Hills in eastern Oregon? They are part of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. This image was taken in late afternoon close to sunset. The light was warm and glowing off the hills and seem to accentuate the bands of color. The shadows were deep and rich, adding to the mystery around the creation of these geological wonders. This is definitely a sunset, late afternoon location. Morning light just doesn't seem to work given the way the hills are facing. For more about how these Painted Hills came to be, read the caption to this image.