Pictured below is the 600-metre-long Hillier Lake that can be found in a densely wooded area of Middle Island in Western Australia – one of 100 or so small islands that make up the Archipelago of the Recherche. This vivid pink lake is something of a mystery and the only one of its kind in the world. The colour is permanent and never changes, even when water is removed and placed in a separate container. Scientists have proven that the lake’s colour is not due to the presence of algae, unlike the other salt lakes Down Under, but they still don’t seem to be able to explain why it’s pink! Another possibility is that the colour comes from red bacteria in the salt crusts.
This natural wonder was first documented by Matthew Flinders, a British navigator and hydrographer, back in 1802. He climbed Middle Island’s highest peak (now known as Flinders Peak) to survey the surrounding waters, and was no doubt amazed by what he saw…
Paul Johnson is Editor of A Luxury Travel Blog and has worked in the travel industry for more than 30 years. He is Winner of the Innovations in Travel ‘Best Travel Influencer’ Award from WIRED magazine. In addition to other awards, the blog has also been voted “one of the world’s best travel blogs” and “best for luxury” by The Daily Telegraph.
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6 Comments
Wow. That can’t be for real. A pepto bismol pink is amazing. Do fish and other organisms live there? Can people touch the water?
It’s real alright. Apparently when you get to the water’s edge, it is just a pale pink in appearance. I think I read somewhere that you can even drink the water without ill effect, but don’t quote me on that one!
There’s also a place in Senegal with a pink lake (Lake Retba) although that one is attributed to algae.
Is it allowed to swim there? But it must be weird to swim in the lake with pink water. I hope that natural wonders like this should be properly-protected and not turned into excessively commercialized tourist attraction.
Wow I’m officially shocked! It’s unbelievable that scientists still don’t know how it is possible! It’s really out of the ordinary to say the least! :)
How to get there from Esperance? any traveling agent can approach?
I heard that it is protected any not allow tourist to approach it now.
Wow. Great blog. Thanks for sharing it. I would like to visit pink lake which is located in Australia.
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This natural wonder was first documented by Matthew Flinders, a British navigator and hydrographer, back in 1802. He climbed Middle Island’s highest peak (now known as Flinders Peak) to survey the surrounding waters, and was no doubt amazed by what he saw…
This natural wonder was first documented by Matthew Flinders, a British navigator and hydrographer, back in 1802. He climbed Middle Island’s highest peak (now known as Flinders Peak) to survey the surrounding waters, and was no doubt amazed by what he saw…
Wow. That can’t be for real. A pepto bismol pink is amazing. Do fish and other organisms live there? Can people touch the water?
It’s real alright. Apparently when you get to the water’s edge, it is just a pale pink in appearance. I think I read somewhere that you can even drink the water without ill effect, but don’t quote me on that one!
There’s also a place in Senegal with a pink lake (Lake Retba) although that one is attributed to algae.
Is it allowed to swim there? But it must be weird to swim in the lake with pink water. I hope that natural wonders like this should be properly-protected and not turned into excessively commercialized tourist attraction.
Wow I’m officially shocked! It’s unbelievable that scientists still don’t know how it is possible! It’s really out of the ordinary to say the least! :)
How to get there from Esperance? any traveling agent can approach?
I heard that it is protected any not allow tourist to approach it now.
Wow. Great blog. Thanks for sharing it. I would like to visit pink lake which is located in Australia.