A bizarre, blood-red landscape feature spotted on Google Earth in the remote deserts of New Mexico has ignited a firestorm of apocalyptic speculation online, with some users fearing it signifies a biblical plague.
Viral Discovery Sparks End-Times Speculation
The coordinates 35°39′11″ N, 106°08′49″ W, northwest of Santa Fe, became a focal point for intrigue after users shared disturbing images of what appeared to be a vast, crimson stain seeping from the ground. A post on X (formerly Twitter) that garnered over two million views captured the alarm, stating: 'Growing increasingly concerned about the large pile of blood in the desert.'
The post, by user @stupidtrashboy, triggered hundreds of comments, with many joking about mob farms or titan's blood. Others, however, turned to scripture, referencing the Book of Exodus and the first of the Ten Plagues, where Moses, at God's command, turned the Nile to blood as an act of divine judgment.
The Scientific Reality Behind the 'Pile of Blood'
Despite the online frenzy, geologists and satellite imagery experts offer a far more terrestrial explanation. The feature is not a supernatural omen but a perfectly natural cinder cone, a volcanic formation created from accumulated ash, cinders, and rock around a vent during past eruptions.
This particular cone is geologically older than the nearby Valles Caldera, indicating it formed during an earlier phase of volcanic activity. Its striking, deep red colour is the result of iron-rich volcanic material that has oxidised, or rusted, over immense periods. The area's arid climate has preserved this vivid hue by limiting erosion and mineral leaching.
The cone's prominence is further accentuated because the red scoria material is actively quarried for use in road construction, landscaping, and water treatment. Any runoff that creates the illusion of a dark red liquid is natural and poses no environmental risk.
A Pattern of Natural Phenomena Mistaken for Omens
This incident is not isolated. In a strikingly similar event in August of this year, Israel's Sea of Galilee turned a vivid blood-red, alarming locals and visitors who again drew parallels to biblical prophecies.
However, Israel's environmental ministry swiftly provided a scientific rationale. The transformation was caused by a harmless bloom of green algae called Botryococcus braunii. A natural pigment in the algae builds up under intense sunlight, creating the startling red discolouration. Officials confirmed the water was safe, despite its ominous appearance.
These episodes highlight a recurring theme: dramatic natural events often clash with ancient narratives in the digital age, where satellite imagery and social media can amplify mystery before facts are established. While the allure of an end-times signifier captivates the imagination, the truth, grounded in geology and biology, proves equally fascinating.
