This Russian River Just Turned Blood Red So Everyone Start Freaking Out

In Russia, a river near an industrial town has turned an eerie blood-red color. While one might suspect it’s one of the ten plagues come back to haunt the earth or some other mystical causation, there is actually a reasonable and less sinister explanation.

The source of the problem at the Daldykan River is actually a leaky factory upstream. Although the exact scientific cause of the river changing colors has not yet been identified, apparently it has happened several times before. The pollution coming from a nickel factory on the river is believed to be the cause, according to Gizmodo.

Instagram users and residents around the Norilsk, Russia area shared pictures on social media of the bizarre sight. In their social media posts, the Norilsk residents wrote that they believed the river’s vivid shade was linked to runoff from a nearby smelting plant. Norilsk is one of the most polluted cities in the world, so the assumptions likely aren’t too far off base.

The company that owns the factory, Norilsk Nickel, has denied the allegations that a leak in the plant is the culprit of the pollution that has altered the river’s color. However, according to Russia’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology, a leaking pipeline in the factory is indeed the source of the problem. The Ministry shared their opinions on the situation in a statement, and also mentioned that they have ordered an investigation into the issue.

What do you think caused this river in Russia to turn this creepy blood-red color?

[H/T Gizmodo]