7 Mind-Blowing Pictures of a Surreal River That Flows Beneath an Ocean

[Judi Lynn]

07/31/2013
7 Mind-Blowing Pictures of a Surreal River That Flows Beneath an Ocean



Photo credit: Tecdive

This mind-blowing underground river, called Cenote Angelita, is located in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Divers can reach it in about 10 to 15 minutes from the south of Tulum. While it may look like a real river, it's actually "a thin layer of hydrogen sulfate separates the saltwater from the fresh water above it." Continue reading for a video, more pictures, and additional information.

"From the surface, you look down and all you can see is deep blue water. At about 18m/60ft you begin to see what looks like a strange wispy bottom appearing below with a few ghostly, bare limbed tree trunks and branches sticking out.

As it becomes clearer you begin to feel the first effects of narcosis at the same time as you see an expanse of wispy fog below. At the top of the cloud you stop and look around, everything appears surreal and a spooky feeling takes over amplified by the effects of the nitrogen in your brain."

More:
http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-gadget/7-mind-blowing-pictures-of-a-surreal-river-that-flows-beneath-an-ocean#2yzbVsGd6IjMt61h.99

[Hissyspit]

1. They can't fool me with their science talk. It's Narnia!

[livingwagenow]

7. Siunse is soshulism, morans!

Go usa!

Edit for go usa!

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. It's actually a salt river beneath fresh water in a cavern on land, not under the ocean

The Yucatan Peninsula contains a vast coastal aquifer system which is typically density-stratified. The infiltrating meteoric water (i.e., rainwater) floats on top of higher density saline water intruding from the coastal margins. The whole aquifer is therefore an anchialine system (i.e., one that is land-locked, but connected to an ocean). Where a cenote, or the flooded cave it is an opening to, provides deep enough access into the aquifer then the interface between the fresh and saline water may be reached. The density interface between the fresh and saline waters is a halocline, which means a sharp change in salt concentration over a small change in depth. Mixing of the fresh and saline water results in a blurry swirling effect due to refraction between the different density fresh and saline waters. The depth of the halocline is a function of several factors: climate and specifically how much meteoric water recharges the aquifer, hydraulic conductivity of the host rock, distribution and connectivity of existing cave systems and how effective these are at draining water to the coast, and the distance from the coast. In general, the halocline is deeper the further from the coast and in the Yucatan Peninsula this depth is 10 to 20 meters below the water table at the coast, and 50 to 100 meters below the water table in the middle of the peninsula, with saline water underlying the whole of the peninsula.

In Cenote Angelita as you get deeper the water turns from pure to salty; 30 meters deep the water is pure, 60 meters deep it becomes saline. Some meters before you get to the bottom of the cave, you see a river underneath, with trees and leaves floating on some liquid level. However it may seem like a river, it’s not a real river. It’s just a layer of hydrogen sulphide.

http://seawayblog.blogspot.co.uk/2010/02/cenote-angelita-underwater-river.html

[eppur_se_muova]

3. Um, hydrogen sulphate ? That would be sulfuric acid.

The reference posted by Ms. Volestrangler says hydrogen sulphide, which is much more credible (also incredibly toxic).

[TheJames]

4. It also says 60 ft. being the start of nitrogen narcosis.

As I remember it from commercial dive school, it was more like 200 ft, depending on various factors.

[formercia]

6. Martini rule for Divers

Definition: A nickname for the effects of Nitrogen Narcosis. The theory developed by divers is that every ten meters (33 feet) of depth is the equivalent of drinking a martini. At 30 meters (100 feet), the depth at which Nitrogen Narcosis becomes noticeable the feeling is said to be the equivalent of having consumed 3 martinis. 40 meters (130 feet) would be 4 martinis, etc.

http://scuba.about.com/od/scubaterminology/g/martinieffect.htm

[Hubert Flottz]

11. Nitrogen Narcosis

Feels like nitrous oxide inhalation. Funny That!

[formercia]

12. I can attest to the fact that one gets quite giddy

and the longer you stay at depth, the worse (or better) it gets. Not a bad feeling but it can seriously impair judgment.

[Hubert Flottz]

13. My instructors always told us,

As soon as you start feeling like you're just one of the fishes, it's time to head for dry land.

People who have never gone diving have no idea what they are missing. The weightless freedom of movement to inspect another world. A world unseen by most human beings. I've been PADI certified since 1973 and I have thoroughly enjoyed the sport. Met lots of good people and wish I was 23 again. Worked for the local dive shop and helped the local rescue folks get their feet wet in the early 70s.

[Dimsdale]

5. Hydrogen sulfate describes the salt form

Credible? No. Hydrogen sulfide is a toxic, colorless gas with the odor of rotten eggs. From the OP description,, the apparent underwater river appears to be a layer of fresh water above a layer of denser salt water on top of which floats a thin layer of insoluble bisulfate (hydrogen sulfate) salts (eg. Calcium hydrogen sulfate). Without adequate mixing, the two layers will remain separate.

[7962]

8. Very interesting, thanks

[Richardo]

9. "There is water.... at the bottom of the ocean."

David Byrne knew what he was talking about.

[azurnoir]

10. It's a Halocline

beautiful

[Spitfire of ATJ]

14. Do the fish need a water bowl?