Great Land of Alaska

Rainbows

In order for a rainbow to form, certain conditions must be present--the unobscured sun low near the horizon, and moist air. With a low sun and lots of rain, many parts of Alaska have perfect conditions for rainbows.

Rainbows appear on the side of the viewer opposite the sun. They are created when water droplets reflect the sunlight back towards the viewer. The droplets act like tiny prisms, breaking the sun's white light down into its separate colors.

Rainbows

	I saw this double rainbow over Kashwitna Lake after a rainstorm one summer afternoon. Double rainbows, although somewhat uncommon, can often be seen under the right conditions.
	A heavy summer rainstorm left a rainbow outside my apartment one day.
	This rainbow in the Palmer Creek Valley seems to be growing out of the trees just in front.