Known as ‘The River of Five Colors” or “The Rainbow River”, Cano Cristales is one of the most amazing rivers of our world.
For the most part of a year, Cano Cristales river, in Colombia, is just an ordinary as any other flowing waters you might have seen. But for a brief period of time, it becomes the scene of a natural festival of colors. The special algae living on the river’s bed of rocks is behind this incredible natural phenomenon.
The river’s flow of water regulates the amount of sunlight reaching the algae, and during the rainy season, it keeps the sun’s rays from reaching the bottom. During the dry season, the water is too shallow to sustain river life, but between these two seasons, conditions are just right for the colors of Cano Cristales to come to life.
During this time the entire river bed is covered in an array of colors, ranging from blue, to green and red, with countless of shades in between. It’s a pity this colorful miracle lasts only a few days, between the wet and dry seasons. But I guess that just makes it even more special.
Unfortunately, or rather luckily, Cano Cristales is located in a remote area, near the town of La Macarena. The 20-meter-wide, 100-meter-long wonder river is only accessible by horse or mule and only a few travel agencies offer tours.
