A rainbow is an optical phenomenon that occurs when certain weather conditions occur.
The rainbow is an optical phenomenon that appears under certain weather conditions. When going to the dictionary developed by the Royal Spanish Academy ( RAE ), we can notice that the term can also be written as a two-word expression: rainbow .
A rainbow or rainbow is an arc formed by stripes of different colors , which is generated by the reflection or refraction of sunlight in water dispersed in the atmosphere. This is because sunlight breaks down in the sky as it passes through water droplets. That is why the phenomenon usually appears when it rains and, simultaneously or almost immediately, sunlight filters through the clouds.
rainbow colors
The rainbow exhibits a red line towards its outer part and a violet line towards the inner area, passing through other shades in the middle. The colors , with different variants in terms of intensity, are the seven fundamental ones: violet, blue, cyan, green, yellow, orange and red.
Sometimes, a double rainbow phenomenon occurs, where a less intense one with inverted colors is added to the traditional rainbow.
Sometimes a double rainbow may appear.
Myths and legends
Beyond the explanation of science, humans have tested different hypotheses about the appearance of the rainbow throughout history. Biblical tradition, for example, holds that the rainbow is a creation of God as a testimony to the promise he made to Noah that there would never again be a universal flood.
Some legends, on the other hand, maintain that the rainbow is a kind of bridge that links heaven to Earth . One of the best known worldwide says that when the rainbow appears, at the end of it it is possible to see a leprechaun carrying a pot full of gold.
Another popular myth is that of the seven butterflies. According to this story, many centuries ago there lived seven butterflies, each one with one of the colors of the rainbow, in the heart of a dense jungle. All the inhabitants of the area watched them with fascination when they took flight , admiring the beautiful effect they produced when passing through the plants.
One bad day, one of the butterflies was seriously injured by a thorn. The others came very worried to care for her, and soon realized that they would not be able to save her. Since they couldn't bear the idea of parting with their friend, they expressed out loud that they would give anything to always stay with her. Then a strange voice asked them if they were willing to give their lives to achieve their goal; Without a second's hesitation, they all responded affirmatively.
Immediately, the sky was covered with thick dark clouds, and a strong storm hit the jungle. In the midst of the rain and wind, a tornado enveloped the butterflies and lifted them until they could no longer be seen from Earth. When the weather calmed, the sky cleared and the sunlight shone brighter than ever. The butterflies' former neighbors soon noticed a beautiful luminous arc in the sky, which displayed with unsurpassed beauty the seven colors that characterized them.
This is how the rainbow was born, as a symbol of friendship between seven butterflies that found no meaning in life if they could not experience it together.
Rainbows in video games
In the world of video games, the rainbow is a fairly recurring element.
In the series of racing titles called Mario Kart, which has numerous installments since its appearance in 1992 , the rainbow tracks are the most difficult and are characterized by their sinuous curves, the absence of guardrails and by being suspended in outer space. .