CAÑO CRISTALES

http://www.descopera.ro/dnews/5562677-cano-cristales-raul-curcubeu-fotoCunoscut sub denumirea de “Raul in Cinci Culori” sau “Raul Curcubeu”, Cano Cristales din Columbia este una dintre cele mai uimitoare varsari de apa din lume.

In cea mai mare parte a anului, Cano Cristales este la fel de comun ca oricare alta apa curgatoare. Dar, pentru o scurta perioada de timp, el devine scena unui spectaculos festival natural de culori. Iar algele speciale care cresc pe platoul de roci de sub rau se fac "vinovate" de magnificul fenomen.

Debitul de apa al lui Cano Cristales regleaza cantitatea de lumina solara care ajunge la alge, iar in timpul sezonului ploios, impiedica razele sa ajunga pe fund. In sezonul uscat, apa este prea scazuta pentru a intretine viata. Dar intre aceste doua sezoane, conditiile sunt optime pentru ca nuantele vii ale raului sa isi faca aparitia.

In acest interval, intregul pat al raului este acoperit de o adevarata paleta de culori, variind de la albastru, la verde si rosu, cu nenumarate nuante intermediare. Miracolul cromatic dureaza, din pacate, numai cateva zile, intre sezonul cu precipitatii si cel uscat. Cano Cristales este localizat intr-o zona nepopulata, in apropierea orasului La Macarena. Cu o latime a albiei de 20 metri, raul-minune este accesibil numai calare si doar cateva agentii de turism organizeaza excursii aici.

http://www.odditycentral.com/pics/cano-cristales-the-rainbow-river.htmlKnown 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.