'Chewing Gum': Meet Australia's Pink Lake

You can already see, here at Mega Curioso, the intriguing lake Retba, which is in Senegal and is completely pink (click here to see). So, did you know that Retba is not the only lake in the world with this peculiar feature?

There are other cases of pink water, but especially in South Western Australia there is a lake of the same color called Hillier. It is on Middle Island, the largest of the Recherche archipelago.

Hillier Lake was discovered in the early nineteenth century in 1802 by British researcher and explorer Matthew Flinders. It gives its name to the highest peak of the island, where it climbed and saw the curious lake of pink waters, being responsible for the first record of the lake with pink water. Out of curiosity, Flinders named the lake after William Hillier, a staff member who had died of dysentery during the expedition.

Unknown cause

Upon further analysis of the site, Flinders and his team found that the salt concentration of the lake was similar to that of the Dead Sea. However, unlike Lake Retba and other rosy places in the world, it has never been possible to prove what really causes this phenomenon on Lake Hillier. Due to the high salt concentration, it is thought that the factor that leaves the waters of the Australian lake with this coloration is the same that causes the effect on Lake Retba in Senegal, ie a type of algae that thrives well in an environment with these characteristics.

As said, this has never been proven scientifically, and there are other possible explanations for the fact. One of them would be that the lake coloration turns pink due to the presence of halophilic bacteria in the salt crusts. The real finding is that the pink color of the lake is not a mere optical illusion or an effect caused by lights, as water, even if placed in another container, retains the pink color.

Preservation and Observation

The lake is preserved to maintain its properties and, since its discovery, has suffered little from the influence of man. Were it not for a brief period of salt exploration, the Hillier would remain almost untouched to this day. Thus, the place is a major tourist attraction and provides amazing images to visitors.

From above, it is possible to see a large pink spot near the coast, separated by sand and intense native vegetation. About 600 meters long, the images from the top are the best to make of the lake, but people also visit and observe the coast, from where, according to the site, you can see a little more transparent water, but still with a pink color.

Oh, and if you are wondering if a dive in the place would be safe, yes, it would be, because the pink water and its elements are not toxic. The only difference is that, just like in the Dead Sea, by the intense salt concentration, you float easier than in a common sea or lake.