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Photos Show Surreal Settings As Crete Turns Orange

Photos Show Surreal Settings As Crete Turns Orange

Blade Runner lovers will enjoy what’s going down in Crete at the moment, as a huge sandstorm has hit the island.

Daisy Phillipson

Daisy Phillipson

If you enjoyed the landscapes of Blade Runner 2049 then you'll love what's going down in Crete at the moment.

The Greek island has been hit by a huge dust storm gusted in from the Sahara Desert.

Stavros Markopoulos/Bav Media

Kerx/Bav Media

A series of photos have popped up online, showing the orange-hue scenes, many of which were posted by tourists who were shocked to wake up to the veil of sand descended on the holiday island.

The sandy cloud gave Crete a sci-fi Mars look on Thursday, as its residents attempted to adjust to the bizarre new visuals.

Stavros Markopoulos/Bav Media

Kerx/Bav Media

While it looks incredible on camera, the dust storm itself is not too good for the locals, as it usually contains high concentrations of lead, zinc, chromium and vanadium and has been linked to health problems.

Known as the Saharan air layer, the mass of sand and dry air comes from the African desert each year from late spring into early autumn.

Kerx/Bav Media

As you might remember, last year the UK was cast in a similar alien-like hue, as the Saharan dust managed to make its way across the Atlantic due to Hurricane Ophelia. It was pretty dystopian, right?

The dust came from North Africa as well as debris from forest fires in Spain and Portugal, leaving London skies and other parts of the UK covered in a cloudy orange haze.

As said, over in Greece this is a yearly occurrence, making it a prime place for photographers. The Saharan air layer itself locates around 5,000 to 20,000 feet above the Earth's surface and travels due to heavy winds.

Stavros Markopoulos/Bav Media

Kerx/Bav Media

We're absolutely blown away (sorry, we had to) by the images that have emerged in the last couple of days. It's surreal, it's beautiful, and it's a stunning example of nature kicking up a storm.

Featured Image Credit: Bav Media

Topics: News