Bravely get into the water: three or four strokes of the paddle and you’re off. Conquering a wild river with your own muscle power is great fun for many people. They get into kayaks and flee. Or they dive – the quiet banks of the rivers always invite you to splash around.

And then there are those who are afraid. Faced with the uncertainty of the depths. Or even a monster that might be hiding in the water. What is swimming next to me? And how can I return safely to dry land?

Certainly, researchers have now discovered a river that has a high scare factor in the untouched rainforest. This is the so-called Ruki. A mysterious body of water located in the Congo Basin of Africa and very, very dark. So dark that researchers believe it could be the darkest river in the world. If you dip your hand in water, it immediately disappears into darkness. Well, would you dare to dive?

Black broth like “jungle tea”

The researchers have now examined the river in more detail. Because they wanted to know where the dark color came from. They discovered that many dead rainforest plants were floating in the river. Because the rain regularly washes the equipment there. These particles make the water dark. Similar to loose tea leaves brewed with water. A real “jungle tea”, as one of the researchers even thinks.

Nature’s green treasure

The river is surrounded by moors. The soil, also known as peat, is constantly wet – almost like a waterlogged sponge, it “chatters” with every step. Certain species of animals and plants feel particularly comfortable in these circumstances. In addition, the heath stores so-called CO₂, which is produced when coal, oil or gas is burned. It is harmful and contributes to the earth becoming hotter and hotter.

These regions, like the river area around Ruki, are true natural treasures.