The Colors of the Sea of Riohacha

Perambulating the First Street of Riohacha, it is evident that the sea dresses in many colors. Bright and dark brown, bluish-green and, occasionally and in the distance, bright blue. Why the variety of colors? For diverse reasons.

Sun rays reflection above the marine waters, as well as clouds presence, can generate optical illusions that made the sea look of one or many determined colors; if the sky is clear the marine surface will display a biform appearance when it comes to the color, being brown close to the coastline and bluish green close to the horizon, but if there is presence of clouds, their shadows, on their diverse intensities, will dye the surface of a greyscale.

Do not forget that on Riohacha empties the Ranchería river, the most important affluent of La Guajira. Freshwater is very different than saltwater, so when the river disappears into the sea, the resulting meeting leaves a trail of colors above the surface that locals and tourists can see. However, the river reaches the coastline only during the rainy season, so this mixing of water and colors is not permanent. The Buenavista swamp, nearby to the city and with a considerable size, also influences in the coloration, because its waters often reach the coastline due to the changes on the nearby beach. Another coloration causes are the marine vegetation and microorganisms presence, like algae and plankton.

Either by clouds and their shadows, by the Ranchería river or by living beings intervention, the colors of the sea of Riohacha are just one of many reasons to visit the city.