Shanay-Timpishka is the only boiling river in the world.
Hidden in the dense jungles of Peruvian Amazon, the steaming waters can reach up to 93°C.
Locals believe the river is sacred and the hot water holds healing properties.
According to legend, a giant serpent spirit named Yacumama or Mother of the Waters who gives birth to hot and cold waters heats the river.
Even the mud of the riverbank is too hot to walk on.
The mud, if it falls on skin, can give third degree burns in less than a second.
Small unfortunate mammals, reptiles and amphibians can be seen floating dead, broiled in the water.
The total river system is about 9km but it is the 6.24km on the lower part of the river that is hot.
It reaches up to 80 feet at its widest point and 16 feet at its deepest.
The river’s extreme temperature is remarkable in that it is non-volcanic.
The nearest active volcanic area is actually more than 700km away.
Researchers believe a fault-led hydrothermal feature causes the river to reach such temperatures.
