Where the Rivers Run Red

The river that drains Angel Falls. Known as a rio negro, or "black river" because it is dark with tanic acids, this river turns the color of burgundy as it flows over the regions bedrock. As you can see, the rocks in this area are red. The rocks are red, the dirt is red, the sand is red, the mud is red, cement is red. And so are you, when you swim in these rivers.

The water is fresh and clear, and as if all that weren't fascinating enough, the tanic acids keep the bugs away!