The Flaming Mountains are located in the Turpan Basin, Xinjiang, northwest China, famous for their blazing red appearance and extreme high surface temperature. Their formation is a combined result of sedimentary deposition, orogenic movement and long-term weathering.
First, during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods of the Mesozoic Era, this region was a vast inland lake basin. Massive sediments including sand, mud and iron-rich substances accumulated layer upon layer. After compaction and cementation over millions of years, these deposits turned into red sandstone, mudstone and conglomerate. Iron oxide contained in the rocks dyes the whole mountain mass bright red.
Second, affected by the Himalayan Orogeny in the Cenozoic Era, strong crustal compression uplifted the originally horizontal red rock strata to the ground surface, accompanied by faults and folds, which built the basic mountain framework of the Flaming Mountains.
Third, the Turpan Basin is a closed low-lying land with extremely arid climate, scarce rainfall and intense solar radiation all year round. Exposed red rocks suffer severe physical weathering caused by thermal expansion and contraction, as well as persistent wind erosion. Bare rock surfaces absorb massive solar heat in summer, pushing the ground temperature over 70 °C. The hot air shimmers above the scarlet ridges, creating a spectacular visual effect like burning flames, hence the name “Flaming Mountains
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