This is the Colorado River exiting the Grand Canyon through Iceberg Canyon into Lake Mead in the Gregg Basin. In Spanish: Río Colorado, means “Colored River“, with an implication of the natural reddish, muddy color the river used to have that was caused by natural sediment loads.

After multiple dams were built to harness the power and control seasonal flooding (still controversial after many decades) the upstream silt is filtered out by the dams. No longer is the water as muddy or colored but instead has acquired the clear blue-greenish hue seen here. For the full story on this image visit the corresponding page on Where Eagles Fly