Why are the waters of Bonito so transparent?

This certainly is one of the factors that make the experience of getting to know Bonito so charming and it contributes a lot to the city doing justice to its name.

The reason for the phenomenon is the high concentration of limestone (calcium carbonate) in the water. Limestone has a property of calcificating any solid that is in the water, making it heavier, so it naturally concentrates on the bottom of the river. That's why the water remains so crystal clear. In addition, the calcified solid is has a sand color. If you put a bottle in a container with limestone water for example, in an average period of 2 years it will be fully calcified and over time it will become a limestone rock. The same can happen with tree trunks and even branches and leaves.

The fact is due to the location of Bonito, because the Serra da Bodoquena, millions of years ago, was formed by an immense limestone block. This causes the rocks to literally grow and change shape, facilitating the formation of caves, for example.

Here are some tours you can go to enjoy the crystal clear waters of the Bonito region:

Snorkeling at Recanto Ecológico Rio Da Prata