Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the Philippines Bontoc Kaman-utek Blue Soil

Kaman-utek Blue Soil

Hues of distinctive blue to bluish-green color the slopes of these hills.

Bontoc, Philippines

Added By
Aya May Dayaoen
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
The distinctive blue soil of Kaman-utek.   Aya May Dayaoen / Atlas Obscura User
  Aya May Dayaoen / Atlas Obscura User
  Aya May Dayaoen / Atlas Obscura User
  Aya May Dayaoen / Atlas Obscura User
  Aya May Dayaoen / Atlas Obscura User
  Aya May Dayaoen / Atlas Obscura User
  Aya May Dayaoen / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Also known as the Blue Soil Hills, Kaman-utek is a riveting expanse of bluish-green mounds in Balili, Bontoc. This area has also been called the Blue Soil of Sagada, but it has been communally accepted to be politically located within the municipality of Bontoc. 

In the Bontoc dialect, kaman-utek means "like a brain." This area got this name because its systems of folds and ridges were likened to brain gyri. Locals also added that confluents of saturated loose soils in the middle of ridges are the equivalent of cerebral veins.

The unique bluish color of Kaman-utek comes from an abundance of copper sulfate in the soil. Specifically, the copper develops a patina when it is exposed to oxygen and weathering. (The same process is responsible for the Statue of Liberty's distinctive color.) The copper also reacts to rain and humidity, which changes the soil’s bluish shade almost every day. The soil is more of a bluish-green color in the dry seasons and an intense blue during the rainy season. White soil can also be seen in some areas, especially on the lower slopes of ridges. Results from multiple researchers and tests have confirmed that the soil is safe for visitors.

Kaman-utek is surrounded by footrails, towering trees, and a local variety of flora making it like a small peculiar blue desert in the middle of a lush pine forest.

Related Tags

Minerals Blue Geological Oddities Color

Know Before You Go

Be respectful of the community, their culture, and the environment when visiting the place. To reach Kaman-utek, a 30-minute drive from the Bontoc Local Government Unit to Balili and another 30-minute hike through the village’s pine forests are necessary. The hills are also usually part of Sagada tour packages and require a four to five-hour hike through Marlboro Hills to reach.

It is highly advised that visitors avoid stepping on the hills and only take pictures from designated areas to help preserve the natural site.

Community Contributors

Added By

Aya May Dayaoen

Published

February 29, 2024

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Kaman-utek Blue Soil
Bontoc
Philippines
17.053778, 120.922262

Nearby Places

Lumiang Cave

Sagada, Philippines

miles away

Ganga Caves

Bontoc, Philippines

miles away

Hanging Coffins of Sagada

Sagada, Philippines

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Bontoc

Bontoc

Philippines

Places 2

Nearby Places

Lumiang Cave

Sagada, Philippines

miles away

Ganga Caves

Bontoc, Philippines

miles away

Hanging Coffins of Sagada

Sagada, Philippines

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Bontoc

Bontoc

Philippines

Places 2

Related Places

  • Durango, Colorado

    Pinkerton Hot Springs

    A multicolored mineral mound dribbles piping hot spring water right off the side of a highway.

  • Seven Coloured Earths

    Chamarel, Mauritius

    Seven Coloured Earths

    This small group of sand dunes manages to pack in a strange rainbow of colors.

  • White sand dunes sit in front of red ones in southern Somalia.

    Jazeera, Somalia

    Merka Red Dunes

    A stark contrast between red sand dunes and the white sand beach immediately next to it can be seen along the southern Somali coast.

  • Healy, Alaska

    Suntrana Canyon

    This often-overlooked canyon dazzles and intrigues with its many layers of colors, shapes and odd formations.

  • Gruta de Las Maravillas

    Aracena, Spain

    Gruta de las Maravillas (Cave of Wonders)

    An underground spring in a labyrinthine cave system, decorated with stalagmites and stalactites.

  • Beach at Basin Head

    Souris, Prince Edward Island

    Singing Sands Beach

    A walk along this white sand beach creates a symphony.

  • Sulphur Springs

    Soufriere, Saint Lucia

    Sulphur Springs

    Come for the springs; stay for the mud bath.

  • Mineral deposits paint these mountains with swaths of red and gold.

    Tabriz, Iran

    Painted Mountains of Tabriz

    Colorful mineral deposits turn these mountains into an Impressionist fantasy.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.