Biblical plague fears: Mystery as Russian arctic river turns BLOOD RED
LOCALS are shocked at the eerie transformation of this Arctic river.
The water in this river has suddenly changed to a bright red hue
In the far north of Russia’s Siberia region near the city of Norilsk lies the Daldykan River.
But it’s no ordinary waterway - the river has recently changed to a disturbing bright red hue, to the horror of local residents.
The bizarre colour was first spotted where the river nears a metal factory called the Nadezhda Metallurgical Plant.
Owned by Norilsk Nikel, the factory employs more than a quarter of the remote city’s population of 210,000.
Some locals think it's an act of God while others say it's pollution from a nearby factory
Twitter users are extremely worried about the colour of the river
Some of those residents have taken to social media to express their concerns and question the cause of the sudden change in hue.
Users on Russian social networking site Typical Norilsk suggested the “river of blood” is a sign from “the Lord God of the imminent war”.
Others believe it’s pollution from the smelting factory, with a former worker claiming a nearby reservoir turned the same colour.
The concerns have prompted an environmental investigation to determine the cause of the change.
Mikhail Golub showed a snapshot of the river from above on his Twitter account
Techno Sotnya tweeted about the river being 'red toxic waters'
A factory spokesperson said: “Environmental monitoring around the river and adjoining production facilities of the company is being held, including helicopter flights.”
But the plant has also denied causing any damage to the area.
It stated: “The Polar Division of Norilsk Nickel does not confirm a leak of emergency discharge of industrial waste into the Daldykan River which could have affected its state.”
Daldykan River isn’t the only bloody waterway in the world - tucked away on East Antarctica is the ominous Blood Falls.
Swimming in Siberia
The gruesome-looking sight could belong to a horror movie but it’s actually one of nature’s most bizarre events.
Tracing back some five million years, the foreboding red hue owes itself to a unique reaction with oxygen, heat and saltwater.
Another body of water in Siberia turns a bright shade in August every year.
Lake Burlinskoye in the mountainous Altai region contains microorganisms called Artemia salina, three-eyed brine shrimp with 11 legs that swim upside down.
This species of pink-tinted aquatic crustaceans has been around with few changes for as long as 100 million years.