South Haven, MI: The Black River is, in fact, black.

(Satellite)

Radiant Landscapes Photography posted three photos with the comment:

I love watching the colors of the lake and river change! Yesterday was a nice sunny day, and it was perfect to show the contrast and water colors. 

Explanation: 

The river is black from tannins and dead leaves present in the swampland upriver. There is minimal to no agricultural runoff at this time since it hasn’t really rained/snowed in a few weeks. It is not black from pollution. 

The water near the beach is greenish/blue/tan from the clay banks that exist north of town, and get carried south during a north wind. 

The blue water is just good ole Lake Michigan blue 😍

Enjoy and thanks for sharing!

Lisa Palanca: Zebra mussels also contribute to that clear blue/green water.

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A satellite image also shows that it is rather black.

Satellite

I fired up Google Earth and went through the timeline. Most of the images had a black river. In one, it was just brown.