Post-reading Musing: The Cañio Cristales river

I was sitting at my favorite spot - under the tamarind tree - on the slope that separated our garden behind our house from the vast grassy field that had exactly two large trees and three small ponds. I was having a dormant brain and a very bored mind. I was leisurely rotating my head and eyes all around and found nothing that could be of interest to anybody. 

Suddenly it came to my notice. It mesmerised me - a small flower that was making slight rhythmic movements, doubtless, under the influence of the light breeze that was blowing then. It was superbly shaped, riotously colored, perfectly sized. I wanted to take it home but didn't. Why to commit a crime?So much water has flown under the bridge since that day. That flower is in my heart yet. So are many others by now - Rinka. Badsha, Mithu- our first three pets, Baboo the himalayan paraket, Bay of Bengal at mid of the night seen from the Digha beach. A polar bear cub orphaned by poachers or may be by licensed american hunters and so on. Of course, I have seen some of them in photographs only. 

The latest is the Cañio Cristales river. It flows in Colombia in South America.About 20m wide and 100km long river is referred to as 'the river that ran away to paradise', 'the river of five colours'.  After rediscovering it in the year 1980 Andres Hurado, the explorer, introduced it as 'the most beautiful river in the world'. Of course.there can never be enough words or phrases to express the reaction of a person looking at even the photographs of the river. The reactions of those who see the river in person can be presumed. 

What is the secret behind this liberal display of blue, green, red, black and countless number of colors in between ? It is an unique biological phenomenon. The river is the home of many mosses and algae. During the wet seasons water flowing fast and deep deprive the plants of sunrays. During the dry seasons there is not enough water to support these plants. However, during the period when the water level is adequate, the plants bloom and produce this magnificent display of colours. 

Due to political and environmental reasons the river had several lonely years. No tourist came and praised it. However, now tourists are free to visit. One has to reach the nearby town called La Macarena and ride a horse to the river.

By Subir Sen