This Bizarre River In Colombia Is Called ‘Liquid Rainbow’

  • 8 years ago
Colombia is home to a 62-mile-long river called the Caño Cristales which reflects brilliant shades of different colors during a certain time of the year thanks to an aquatic plant that blooms red.

There is a river in Colombia that has been called the “liquid rainbow” and the “river of five colors” for good reason, notes News.com.au. 
The 62-mile-long Caño Cristales near the town of La Macarena contains brilliant reds, blues, yellows, and shades in between. 
According to the BBC, the effect is often thought to be the result of moss or algae but is actually caused by an aquatic plant called the macarenia clavigera. 
However, it only blooms red during certain times of the year; the peak season is, in fact, between September and November when the river has enough water to feed the plant but is also dry enough to allow sunlight to reach it.
The other colors are provided by elements from the surrounding environment like water and sand, reports Atlas Obscura. 

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