This video showing meeting of two water bodies with colour contrast, is not unique, and happens because of difference in sediment loads - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
July 15, 2022
A video through a post is being widely shared on social media claiming that Quran had talked about such a miracle where there would be one ocean with two different colours. Let us fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: Video of one ocean with two different colours talked about in Quran.
Fact: Meeting of waters is in Brazil, where the muddy Amazon River meets the clear Tapajos River in Santarem. The difference in colour is because of the sediment load carried by the respective rivers. The Amazon River carries huge quantities of fine sediments from high Andes Mountains, whereas Tapajos River carries almost no sediment hence its water is clear. This meeting of water bodies and colour contrasts are not unique to only this region in Brazil, this can be seen in other parts of the world as well. Reportedly, in some Islamic verses in Surah Ar-Rahman, it is said that two seas meet side by side, both having a barrier. This is interpreted in a generic sense, not specific to the viral video. Hence, the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.
When reverse image search is done on the screenshots of the video, a similar video is found on Instagram saying that the visuals are from a point where Amazon River meets the Tapajos River in Brazil. Many other social media posts (here) and YouTube videos (here and here) also say that the visuals are from Santarem, Brazil, where the Amazon River and Tapajos River meet.
When visuals of Santarem, Brazil, are seen online, the meeting of Amazon River and Tapajos River are like the ones in the viral video. It is a famous tourist attraction near Brazil, where numerous people come to see this unique meeting of waters. Some of the videos (here and here) on YouTube show the waters from nearby.
The Amazon River water is muddy, which is different from the dark blue of the Tapajos River. According to the Earth Observatory of NASA, the difference in colour is because of the sediment load carried by the respective rivers. The Amazon River carries huge quantities of fine sediments from high Andes Mountains, whereas Tapajos River carries almost no sediment hence its water is clear.
This meeting of water bodies and colour contrasts are not unique to only this region in Brazil, this can be seen in other parts of the world as well. Fraser River flowing into Strait of Georgia in Canada is one such example where they appear to not mix because of high sediment loads but later eventually mix with the ocean. The water bodies appear to not mix because of salinity, the sediment load in the waters.
Reportedly, in some Islamic verses in Surah Ar-Rahman, it is said that two seas meet side by side, both having a barrier. This is interpreted in a generic sense, not specific to the viral video.
To sum it up, this video showing the meeting of two water bodies with colour contrast, is not unique, and generally happens because of difference in sediment loads.