Cloud iridescence or irisation is a colorful optical phenomenon that occurs in a cloud and appears in the general proximity of the Sun or Moon. The colors resemble those seen in soap bubbles and oil on a water surface. It is a type of photometeor.You might on occasion see a rainbow-like cloud. They're fairly rare, but people do spot them, and sometimes they're lucky enough to capture photos of them. They're caused by the presence of very tiny ice crystals or water droplets in the air, which cause light to be diffracted (spread out).

'I pictured this beauty over Siberia's highest peak, Belukha, early in the morning', said Svetlana.The wind at this height was so strong that the cloud 'lace' changed every second.'The Altai Mountains in southern Siberia include some of Russia's most stunning scenery, a haven for travelers who want to escape from the modern world.

The Altai were formed during the great orogenic (mountain-building) upthrusts occurring between 500 and 300 million years ago and were worn down, over geologic time, into a peneplain (a gently undulating plateau with generally accordant summit heights).The mountain range itself is majestic, but the sights that can be seen in Siberia's Switzerland, as it is lovingly called, are unlike anywhere else in the world.

These delicate clouds look like ethereal jellyfish, floating through a sky of diamonds. I can only imagine how it felt to see these incredible works of natural art in person, with my own eyes. The photos are amazing, but imagine seeing it for yourself.