Every year, visitors to the Vilcanota mountains in Peru are treated to a unique natural phenomenon, namely a river that flows blood red through the clean rocky valleys in Cusco. Recently, this red river has gone viral on social media, after several photos and videos showcasing the beauty and uniqueness of the river circulated. However, there are many who doubt the authenticity of the river's color. Let's find out the facts about the river until the end!

"The Red River of Cusco is located approximately 100 kilometers from the city of Cusco, Peru, near the famous Rainbow Mountain Palcoyo. This red river is known by the locals as Palquella Pucamayu. The river is only red for about 5 kilometers before it merges with other streams and small rivers in the area, after which its color will mix and lose its unique hue."

The best time to see the red river directly is during the rainy season, which is from December to April, because the color of the water is directly influenced by the precipitation level. Sometimes, Palquella Pucamayu is murky brown in color, but during the rainy season, a number of iron oxide-rich soils are brought down from the mountains and color the water bright red.

Photo and video of the red river in Cusco have gone viral on social media for years, but despite being a well-documented phenomenon, many still doubt the existence of the river. Indeed, software like Photoshop and other editing applications can be used to create such unusual illusions, but this river is truly real.