The legend of a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow comes from Irish folklore, where leprechauns were said to guard hidden treasure. A rainbow forms when sunlight is refracted and reflected by water droplets at a particular angle relative to the observer, so it's apparent position changes as you move, keeping both the end of the rainbow and its legendary pot of gold permanently out of reach.
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Fact-a-Day
September 22, 2026
