The Pink Lakes - Lake Hillier, Lake Retba, etc.

The most notable feature of this lake is its rose pink colour. The colour is permanent, and does not alter when the water is taken in a container.

Although the source of the pink colour has not been definitively proven in the case of Lake Hillier, the pink colour of other salt lakes (e.g., Pink Lake) in the region arises from a dye created by the organisms Dunaliella salina and Halobacteria. Another hypothesis is that the pink colour is due to red halophilic bacteria in the salt crusts.

Despite the unusual hue, the lake exhibits no known adverse effects upon humans. From above the lake appears a solid bubble gum pink, but from the shoreline it looks more like a clear pink hue is in the water. The shoreline is also covered in salt crust deposits.

It is so named for its pink waters, caused by Dunaliella salina algae in the water that produce a red pigment that uses sunlight to create more energy, turning the waters pink.

Lake Retba, Senegal
Hutt Lagoon, Australia
Pink Lake, Australia
Lake Hillier, Australia
Salina de Torrevieja, Spain
Dusty Rose Lake, Canada
Masazir Lake, Azerbaijan
Quairading, Australia