Travel

Beautiful Photos of the River of Five Colors

For most of the year, the Rio Cano Cristales in Colombia looks like any normal river. But for a brief period of time during the year, between the rainy season and the dry season, a beautiful species of plant called Macarenia clavigera turns bright red and populates much of the water.

The river is nicknamed “the river of five colors” because of the red plants, the yellow and green sand, the blue water and all the shades in between.

(MORE: The Clearest, Bluest Waters in the World)

The plants bloom red only for a few weeks from September through November, according to Amusing Planet, because at this time the water level drops enough for the sun to warm the water and plants.

Cano Cristales is located within Serrania de la Macarena National Park, but it is not easy to access. Visitors must fly from Villavicencio to Macarena, take a boat and travel unmarked trails to reach the site, according to Forbes.

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