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The Terranera lake is a small sulphur water mirror of green colour
in clearly contrast with the intense blue of the sea, from which is
separated only from little meters from the same named beach formed
of sand mixed to minerals.
The lake is in the eastern part of Elba. From Porto Azzurro take the
road in northern direction toward Rio nell’Elba, turn and after
few kilometers on the right in direction camping Reale. From the beach
a small path leads in northern direction, passing sumptuous mediterrane
vegetation and interesting geological formations, which after some
hundred meters ( hereby is also to climbs and to cross some), leads
to the beach of Terranera. The color of the beach is really unusual,
somewhat opaque on cloudy days however thousands of dazzling reflexes
illuminate in the light of the sun. Millions of silver shining fragments
receive the visitors in the environment of this former mine area.
By the rocky coast are to be recognized still remainders of the industrial
mechanisms.
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Photo: Ingrid Guthmann
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The second prevailing
color is rust red the typical here the rock in this area rich of iron.
Already of far shines the emerald-green water level of the lake, its
color changes depending upon sun exposure also into intensive bluish
green tones. Who has time to spend a whole day here, can observe these
color changes and in addition make a geological exploration and enjoy
the different atmospheres of this place in the process of the day.
How develope all these different colors?
The crumbled mineral haematit,
determinate the black color of the beach. A well-known iron mineral,
whatever was diminished until few decades ago here and from that are
to see it on the island different beautiful collecting pieces. The
golden coloured graceful designed crystals consist of pyrite,
further iron mineral, from which famous pieces of collecting went
into all the world.
The reddish colors however come from the Limoniet and other iron oxides,
developed by the oxidation of the two minerals specified before.
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