If you thought the rainbow was difficult to see and impossible to touch, you have never heard of the “Liquid Rainbow”. But where is it?
The “LIQUID RAINBOW” is the most BEAUTIFUL RIVER in the world
When something particularly negative happens to someone, they often say “don’t worry, after the storm comes the rainbow“… well, in this case, however, we are talking about a tangible rainbow, which you can even touch. Known by many as “Liquid Rainbow”, this extraordinary river is crossed by a strange phenomenon every year. But where is it and how does a river turn into a bundle of colors?
# In the heart of Colombia, a rainbow is handy
The Rainbow River is located in a rather resilient corner of the Earth, in fact over the centuries, the populations who live there, have first had to fight for their own survival and, then, for the survival of the habitat that hosts them. We are talking about Colombia and its Caño Cristales river (literally “crystal channel”). Paulo Coelho wrote “Anyone who wants to see the rainbow must learn to love rain” and the inhabitants of these places must have learned really well to love it, since in return they received a rainbow at their fingertips.
# Its colors are given by a rare natural phenomenon
The river is not large, nor does it cover a very long path: it flows for a hundred kilometers through the Serranía de la Macarena, never exceeding 20 meters in width. The explosion of color that occurs in its waters from late July to November is due to a very rare natural phenomenon linked to a particular aquatic plant found on the river bed: the Macarenia clavigera. The flowering of this plant gives the river a very bright red-fuchsia color, which, aided by the clarity of the waters and other algae and plants making up the rich flora, blend its waters with four other colors: yellow, green, blue and black.
# How long can a rainbow last? Here, about 5 months
The Macarenia clavigera adheres firmly to the rocks at the points where the river has a more rapid current and also within the characteristic “potholes of the giants”. It is found only in very few other local rivers and, in the Caño Cristales, together with the other floral elements present, it creates what is considered one of the most extraordinary natural spectacles on the whole Earth.
The Colombian river for about 5 months a year turns into a canvas painted by nature and the surrounding ecosystem frames it. It has been described by National Geographic as “coming from the Garden of Eden” for its beauty, and in fact it looks like a rebellious river that has decided to escape from Paradise to take refuge among mortals.
As Coelho wrote, the rainbow is a reward for learning to love rain, and visiting the “Liquid Rainbow” could be a way to immerse yourself in positivity (metaphorically, you CANNOT take a bath!) And begin to appreciate every moment.
ROSITA GIULIANO
