These Australian lakes are neon pink naturally. Here’s why

 

Credits: Alamy

Australia is home to striking neon-pink lakes, the most famous being Lake Hillier in Western Australia. Their unusual color isn’t artificial but comes from salt-loving microbes. In Lake Hillier, the bacterium Salinibacter ruber produces a red pigment called bacterioruberin, while other pink lakes host algae like Dunaliella salina, which generates beta-carotene. These pigments help the organisms survive in highly saline environments and give the water its vivid hue. However, human activities such as commercial salt harvesting have diminished the intensity of some lakes. Scientists and tourists alike remain fascinated by these natural wonders. 

Read more: These Australian lakes are neon pink naturally. Here’s why | BBC Science Focus Magazine