The history of a unique spotted reservoir, which, after long ordeals, returned to its rightful owners (8 photos)

There are corners of nature in the world that are very original and unique. But hard-to-reach. This place doesn't seem to be one of those. But to be there it is very problematic for a simple tourist.





We are talking about the Canadian lake Kliluk, which for a long time belonged to the local Indian tribe Okanagon. The reservoir is located near Osoyoos, British Columbia. And calls really incredible experience. After all, Kliluk reminds ... it’s difficult right away and say exactly what. Or a careless mosaic, assembled by a child's hand, either a patchwork quilt, or the skin of a giraffe. Or even the surface mysterious planet. After all, greenish, brown, gray and olive spots of various sizes.



They are separated from each other by white stripes. How to explain amazing coloration? The lake is quite large, 700 by 250 meters. And him water contains a large amount of sulfate compounds. Collected here almost the entire periodic table - sodium, potassium, magnesium. Even titanium and silver are available. When the summer heat comes, the reservoir becomes smaller, and such circles and ovals remain on the surface. Islands are formed from crystallizing compounds. And they are so strong that they can even withstand person. And each time the shape and shades of these spots are different.

The mosaic is preserved until the beginning of the rainy season. And then Kliluk again becomes an ordinary lake.

sacred place





Okanagon

Okanagon believed that this place is magical, capable of heal not only bodily, but also spiritual wounds, you just have to ask. AND diligently guarded him from strangers. But it turned out that in the end of the last century, some enterprising businessman Ernest Smith managed purchase a lake with an adjacent territory for construction SPA complex.



The locals were outraged by this arrangement. According to the Indians, whites should not even look in the direction of a sacred place. Not to mention the existence of a resort where thousands of people could rest annually.



Negotiations began with Smith, which dragged on for almost 20 years. As a result, the businessman gave in and agreed to sell the land to the Indians, where their ancestors lived. Such are the legal conflicts. But he broke the price insane - 720 thousand dollars. Naturally, the tribe did not have such means. And most of it - about 80% of the amount was contributed by the Committee for Indigenous Peoples of Northern Canada. The rest people collected on their own and got the opportunity to manage their land again.



The tribe is small, hardly 500 people. But it almost the only one in Colombia lives according to the laws of nature, really preserving the original way of life, life, traditions.



The Indians are jealous of their land. And now access closed here. You can admire the pearl of nature only by the personal permission of the leader. Or from the observation deck. Although people and paid such a high price, but the costs, apparently, were justified. After all, such corners of unique nature on the planet remain Less and less.