Alaska's Rust Rivers

High in the remote western Brooks Range of Alaska, rivers and tributaries are flowing bright orange where once they ran clear, an eerie byproduct of permafrost thaw that exposes pyrite-rich bedrock to water and oxygen. Now, through the lens of Canadian photographer Taylor Roades, these “rust rivers” take center stage in 
a striking visual narrative.

Beyond scientific documentation, the images in Alaska's Rust Rivers underscore photography’s power to convey urgency, beauty, and a profound emotional connection to our changing planet.