World Water Day is held annually on 22 March to focus attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. Let’s glimpse through some of the mind-blowing water sources of the world.
1. Have you ever seen a river changing colours? In the Macarena Mountains in Columbia, there is a river called as ‘The River of Five Colors’. The algae or moss does not give the river its colors, but a plant called ‘Macarenia clavigera’ is behind the colour change. Depending on which month it is, this plant can be any shade of red, blue, yellow, orange, and green, or some combination of these colors. Which magnificent river are we talking about?
2. This river in the Philippines has long been surrounded by legends. Also called the ‘Enchanted River’, it is said mermaids and pixies swim and fairies cavort here. The river appears to have no source. At 12pm, the caretaker of the river will ring a bell requesting everyone to get out of water as it is “feeding time”. A hymn brings in a school of fishes together. Which river is this?
3. This village in Himachal Pradesh overflows with hot springs and is a pilgrimage place for Sikhs and Hindus. Hindus believe that sage Manu recreated human life here after the great flood. Rice for the “Langar” (mass meal) is cooked by putting rice into linen-bags and dipping them into the boiling water. Identify the hot spring.
4. Scientists believe they have discovered the world’s largest thermal river. Allegedly, people who ventured into the rainforest returned with stories of poisoned water and man-eating snakes. Its ancient name, Shanay-timpishka, translates to ‘boiled with the heat of the sun’. Which country is this found in?
5. In 2016, the residents of this city inside the Arctic Circle shared photos on social media of the Daldykan River that mysteriously turned red. Theories of a chemical leak and large iron presence were dubbed as the reasons. Environmentalists turned down the mystery angle and banked on human induced reasons. Which country’s river is this?
