Oregon's Painted Hills look like they belong in a storybook. The sweeping landscape is a burst of colour, filled with various shades of yellow, gold and red.
Despite their name, there's no actual painting involved.
The hills are made of claystone and have been around for millions of years. The result is that every layer of soil has been subject to varying climates, so each one is a different colour based on its geological era.
For example, tropical climates shaped the red and orange hues, while drier eras created yellow shades. There are some streaks of black soil which are believed to have been the result of floodplains and surrounding vegetation.
In fact, even modern day's ever-shifting light and moisture levels mean that the hills' colours can easily change as the various layers are exposed - so if you visit the same spot twice, you could still end up looking at two very different landscapes.
It's therefore no surprise that the hills have been attracted intrepid explorers for decades, with thousands of tourists flocking to the site every year.
There are plenty of walking trails for visitors, who are urged to stick to the mark paths in order to help protect the landscape.
According to locals, the best time to visit is during late afternoon when the softer lighting makes for a particularly magical setting.
The Painted Hills are hailed as one of the 'Seven Wonders of Oregon', and make up one third of the John Day Fossil Beds in the USA states.
The other two are Clarno Unit, which is known for its alien-esque landscape and volcanic sludge, as well as Sheep Rock Unit with a museum displaying plants and animals including saber-toothed cats.
You can find out more about the hills and other highlights in the region on the Travel Oregon website.
