Scattered green plants grow on the weathered porous remains of laterite building blocks among the ruins at the Angkor Archaeological Park in Cambodia.
Laterite, a soil type rich in iron and aluminum, is formed in hot, wet tropical areas through prolonged chemical weathering of the underlying rock. Its rusty red color is caused by high iron oxide content. Mined while it is below the water table, laterite can easily be cut into regular-sized blocks. When exposed to air it gradually hardens as the moisture evaporates and the iron salts lock into a rigid lattice structure.
Size: 4272px × 2848px
Location: Angkor Archaeological Park, Cambodia
Photo credit: © John Cumbow / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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