Why Is Lake Hillier Pink?

MessageToEagle.com – Lake Hillier is an extraordinary pink lake on Middle Island, Australia. The lake is small, only about 1969 feet (600 meters) long and its width is not more than 820 feet (250 meters).

Surrounded by a rim of sand and dense woodland of paperbark and eucalyptus trees, the pink lake looks like a solid bubble gum pink when admired from above. Middle Island and its pink lake are located in a pristine wilderness, so the only way to get a full view of this lake is from the air.

Lake Hillier was first discovered in 1802 by navigator and cartographer Matthew Flinders, who climbed Middle Island’s highest peak (now known as Flinders Peak) to survey the surrounding waters when he came across the remarkable lake.

Flinders took samples from the lake and mentioned its existence in his journal.

It is not the only pink lake in Australia and the world, but it’s truly a beautiful and has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports significant numbers of native and migratory birds. What makes Lake Hiller particularly unique is that unlike other pink lakes around the world, its water is still distinctively pink even when it is in a glass.

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More Cool Science Facts

Why Lake Hiller is pink is still unknown. Scientists suspect the color has to do with the presence of the Dunaliella salina microalgae. The Dunaliella produces carotenoids, a pigment found in carrots as well. It is also possible that the presence of halophilic bacteria in the salt crusts is another explanation for the lake’s pink color. A reaction between the salt and the sodium bicarbonate that is found in the water may cause it as well.

The water of the lake is otherwise clear and it causes no harm to the human skin and the Dunaliella salina alga is completely harmless as well. In fact, swimming in the lake’s water is safe and fun, but impossible to do for tourists as the lake cannot be visited.

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