There are many beautiful bodies of water on our planet. But it is the South American river Caño Cristales that is deservedly called fabulous. Recognized as an object of the Natural Heritage of Humanity, it is included in the UNESCO list.
Resounding "Caño Cristales" means "crystal river" or "crystal stream". The Colombians gave it the name of the Five-Colored River and even dubbed it Runner from Paradise. They are sure that this reservoir cannot be found more beautiful in the whole world. The Melted Rainbow is also famous for the fact that its color changes several times a year.
Beautiful and amazing
Flowing through the territory of La Macarena, a national reserve, a unique river, the left tributary of the Guavier, cannot be called large. Its width is about 20 m with a total length of less than 100 km.
Rounded natural reservoirs, which simply abound in the bottom of the reservoir, resemble the footprints of a daytime giant. The picturesque coast looks like a giant scattered flat boulders according to the principle known only to him.
The river itself is a complex structure formed by depressions, rapids and waterfalls. Both the riverbed and the coastal cliffs along the entire route of Caño Cristales are covered with moss like a carpet. On the bottom, like a carpet, bright algae creep. And the properties of water are only slightly different from distilled water. Even at a depth, the bottom is visible, the water is so transparent.
All colors of nature
There are practically no impurities in it. Therefore, there is no sludge deposition at the bottom. Because of this, and also due to the unusual structure of the channel, there is no fish in the river, as well as food for it.
The basic tones of Caño Cristales are shades of green, red, black, yellow and blue. All of them are the result of the activity of algae. Depending on many factors, their color and shade saturation change. It sometimes becomes more tender, then it intensifies.
Most of the year, the reservoir "wears" a greenish-silver outfit. The summer sun quickly dried the algae, and the river was full of colors: Macarenia Clavijera gave the water all shades of red, and Clavija Macarinence shimmered with green.
Good at any time
Sand and moss paint the river black and yellow, and the reflective sky gives Caño Cristales a turquoise color. In the heat, a rich crimson prevails.
Water strikes with a riot of colors from July to November. At this time, the reservoir resembles a masterpiece of an abstract artist. This is the time that tourists choose to travel here. The Multicolored River is also good in early spring, when it shimmers in many tones.
The rainy season transforms the Cano Cristales: the pond turns into a sweeping stream. At this time, the color of the water becomes normal: there is not enough light for the algae.
Locals are convinced that Caño Cristales is the brightest and most extraordinary not only in Colombia, but in the whole world there is no such thing. This is confirmed by the fact that no one has yet been able to list the number of color variations in the reservoir.
