Its name comes from the fact that the bed of the river is made up of exposed quartzite dating back to more than a 1 million years ago. But is not famous for having some of the oldest exposed rocks in the world, it's famous because the river is invaded with intense and vibrant colors for a short period of time each year. If most of the year Cano Cristales looks like any other river, a bed of rocks covered in dull green mosses who are visible below a cool, clear current, from July to December, when the algae macarenia clavigera blooming, the river comes alive with hues of green, blue, yellow, red, and black.
The red color is given by the Macarenia clavigera, who turn the river in a red floor during the wet season. This plant requires precise conditions, including just the right water level and just the right amount of sunlight, to take on its bright hues. The other colours are given by the minerals found on the rocks of the river. Though shades of red, from pale pink to hot pink, blood red to maroon, are most common, the macarenia clavigera plant turns bright green in shaded areas. It has been seen in blue, yellow and orange as well.
Cano Cristales river has aquatic plants but is devoid of the fish. The water of the river is extremely clean due to the lack of nutrients and small particles. However, besides the colorful river, the area is home to approximately 420 bird species, 43 reptile species, 10 amphibian species and eight primates.
Cano Cristales is isolated area and is not accessible by road. Adventurous tourists can fly into the nearby town of La Macarena. From there it is a short trip into "Serrania de la Macarena," the national park in which Caño Cristales is located. They can then make the last part of the journey by foot or on horseback. Until the mid-2000s, nearby guerrilla activity rendered Caño Cristales almost completely inaccessible. But today, the Colombian military controls a 30 km area around La Macarena, the dusty town that serves as the gateway to Caño Cristales, making the region open and safe for tourists.
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