Australia is known for its pink lakes that are popular among tourists and scientists.
One of the most well-known pink lakes is Lake Hillier in Western Australia, but similar lakes can be found worldwide, from Senegal to Spain.
These lakes share a common characteristic – their high salinity. The pink color is a result of salt-loving microorganisms that produce red pigments to assist in photosynthesis.
The pink water in Lake Hillier is caused by pigment-producing bacteria like salinibacter gum and bacterioberin. Other pink lakes have algae, such as Dunaliella Salina which produces β-carotene.
Unfortunately, some pink lakes have lost their vibrant colors due to commercial salt extraction.
This article addresses the question “Why are Australia’s pink lakes pink?” asked by Ashton Mahoney via email.
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Source: www.sciencefocus.com
