Cano Cristales in Colombia is the world’s most beautiful river

LYING high up in the Colombian mountain range runs a river system unlike any you’ve ever seen before. Called the ‘liquid rainbow’, it's the most beautiful river in the world.

Cano Cristales is known as the “liquid rainbow” Picture: Mario Carvajal / FOTUR

LYING high up in the Colombian mountain range runs a river system unlike any you’ve ever seen before.

Cano Cristales runs through the Serrania de la Macarena mountains of Colombia and has been dubbed the “river of five colours” and the “liquid rainbow” thanks to its incredible display of yellows, greens, blues and reds.

News_Image_File: This rare display of colours is found nowhere else in the world.  Picture: Mario Carvajal / FOTUR

News_Image_File: Starting out a brilliant red, the waters reflect pinks, blues and greens.  Picture: Mario Carvajal / FOTUR

Occurring only between the months of June and December, this rare phenomenon occurs thanks to an endemic aquatic plant called macarenia clavigera. Lying on the bottom of the river, the plant blossoms during these months when the right water levels and right amount of sunlight trigger its spectacular colours.

The plant turns a brilliant bright red that is offset by a kaleidoscope of shades of yellow, green, and blue that is seen nowhere else in the world.

During the dry season the plant shuts down, it’s rare beauty on hold for another six months and the area closed off to tourists.

News_Image_File: The river is hard to reach and was closed off to the public until the early 2000s. Picture: Mario Carvajal / FOTUR

News_Image_File: The spectacular waters cascade through a series of waterfalls and rock pools. Picture: rachelcifelli.

Running 100km long, Cano Cristales was inaccessible until the mid 2000s due to nearby guerilla activity. Today the Colombian military controls a 30km area around La Macarena, the town that serves as the gateway to the river, making it open and safe for tourists.

News_Image_File: Tourists can only catch the rare display of colours between June and December.  Picture: Mario Carvajal / FOTUR

News_Image_File: A sea of red flows through the Colombian mountains.  Picture: Mario Carvajal / FOTUR

News_Image_File: It’s an underwater display of vibrant colours.  Picture: Mario Carvajal / FOTUR

News_Image_File: The “river of five colours” is something you need to see in your lifetime.  Picture: Mario Carvajal / FOTUR

News_Image_File: It looks like bright pink coloured algae has overtaken the river.  Picture: Mario Carvajal / FOTUR

News_Image_File: During the dry season, the water levels are not high enough to promote the plant’s rare colours.  Picture: Mario Carvajal / FOTUR