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The image above shows an actual lake. No photo editing has been applied. It’s not filled with Pepto-Bismol, bubble gum, or pink food coloring. It’s simply a naturally pink lake.
Australia's Lake Hillier is located on an island in the Recherche Archipelago, a series of islands to the south of Western Australia. The lake stretches about 2,000 feet (600 meters) in length and 800 feet (250 meters) in width. Because it’s not on the mainland, it remained unknown until 1802. That year, a British explorer reached the peak of a mountain and spotted what he described as a "small lake of rose colour," Jeopardy! champ Ken Jennings noted in Conde Nast Traveler. As far as we know, its pink color has always been present.
The pink color isn’t just a trick of the light. If you visit the shores of Lake Hillier, you’ll find that the pink hue persists, although it appears a bit softer, as shown below. If you collect some of the water in a container (preferably clear), the water will remain pink.
So what’s behind this unusual color? While there are several theories explaining why Lake Hillier appears pink, the most widely accepted ones focus on salt and algae. Lake Hillier contains an exceptionally high level of salt, similar to the Dead Sea, which has nearly 33% salinity (about 10 times saltier than the ocean). Additionally, the lake is home to a type of algae called Dunaliella salina. Unlike most algae, which turn water green, Dunaliella salina produces a reddish pigment that helps it absorb light. Since this algae thrives in salty environments—and few organisms can survive there—the abundance of this algae may explain why Lake Hillier is such a deep, vibrant pink.
Although you probably wouldn’t want to drink the water, it’s safe for swimming. (However, the lake is quite remote—you’d have to take a helicopter from the mainland to the island). But don’t expect to swim laps or practice your strokes—you’ll find it difficult to move through the water. Due to the high salinity, you’ll float effortlessly like "a cork in a bottle of pink, pink wine," as Jennings describes it.
