canadianbeaver Posted February 25, 2013 Posted February 25, 2013 On Facebook, they describe it as lake Pepto Bismol; Unicorn Pee; Magic Lake; and some just say it is BS. Well?
stargazer14 Posted February 25, 2013 Posted February 25, 2013 The only thing I think is BS is the statement scientist don't know why its pink.
Fuzz Posted February 25, 2013 Posted February 25, 2013 It's the new location for the LGBT Mardi Gras.
Ken Gargett Posted February 26, 2013 Posted February 26, 2013 "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." on an island in an area that is some serious fishing territory.
canadianbeaver Posted February 26, 2013 Author Posted February 26, 2013 Thank you for this insight. But I will go with b.) Unicorn Pee.
thechenman Posted February 26, 2013 Posted February 26, 2013 Thank you for this insight. But I will go with b.) Unicorn Pee. That's a whole helluva lotta unicorn pee.
Orion21 Posted February 26, 2013 Posted February 26, 2013 The water in Senegal's Lake Retba always seems to have a pinkish hue to it. However, catch it during the dry summer months when the saline levels are high and you will see it turn strawberry pink and sometimes, even red. The good news is that color is not the result of chemicals being dumped in the lake but nature, working its magical tricks! Located in the Cape Vert Peninsula that lies north east of Senegal's capital Dakar, the lake's unusual appearance is caused by a salt-loving green micro alga called Dunaliella Salina that resides in the lake, known for its high concentration of the mineral. As you can imagine, very few organisms can survive in such highly saline conditions. The only reason this single-celled organism is able to do so, is because of its ability to create large amounts of Beta-Carotene, that helps protect it against the intense light that reflects off the salt and also gives the algae its dark pink hue. While the color may make the lake appear eerie and unsafe, the micro organism is safe not only to swim amidst, but also, consume - Good news for the locals that are constantly wading in to mine the salt. In fact, the algae are so rich in antioxidants that they are often harvested and used in cosmetics and dietary supplements.
canadianbeaver Posted February 26, 2013 Author Posted February 26, 2013 Great info about Senegal! And the photo is beautiful!
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