Top 6 Amazing Pink Lakes In The World

Unlike some of the most famous lakes in the world, some relatively small versions of these feats of nature have a remarkably pink color, especially when seen from above.

The reason these bodies of water turn pink is because of the presence of a particular type of algae named Dunaliella salina. When these algae are exposed to sunlight they produce beta-carotene, the stuff found in abundance in carrots.

In this article, you’ll discover some of the most famous pink lakes in the world, natural wonders of which the color ranges from a pinkish hue to straight-up bubblegum pink.

1. Lake Hillier, Goldfields-Esperance, Australia

Lake Hillier is a lake in Australia and is the main attraction of Middle Island, the largest island of the Recherche Archipelago in the Goldfields-Esperance region. This collection of 105 islands can be found just off the south coast of Western Australia and covers an area of about 4,000 square kilometers (1,544 square miles).

This remarkably pink lake is only separated from the ocean by a thin strip of vegetation which makes it one of the most fascinating feats of nature you’ll ever come across. It was named after a crew member of the expedition who first visited it in the early 19th century named William Hillier and who died in 1803.

famous pink lakes in the world Lake Hillier Aerial View
The bubblegum pink Lake Hillier / Kurioziteti123 / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en

2. Koyashskoye Salt Lake, Crimea, Ukraine

The Koyashskoye Salt Lake is another lake with a pink hue that is situated on the Kerch Peninsula, the main peninsula sticking out of the larger Crimean Peninsula. Crimea officially belongs to Ukraine but has recently been claimed by Russia as well due to its strategic location near the Black Sea in Eastern Europe.

One of the most remarkable facts about this lake is that it’s extremely salty, and when the water evaporates, this salt crystallized and turns into glistening stones that can be found lying around on the shores of this lake. Even though it’s well known by locals, mass tourism hasn’t arrived here, making it one of the most pristine natural wonders in the world.

Koyashskoye Salt Lake interesting facts
View of the Koyashskoye Salt Lake / Wiki Commons

3. Lake Natron, Tanzania

Lake Natron is one of the largest pink lakes in the world and is located in the utmost northern part of Tanzania, a country in East Africa. It’s very shallow with depths of less than 3 meters (9.8 feet) on average. It reaches a maximum length of 57 kilometers (37 miles and a width of 22 kilometers (14miles).

The lake has different shades of pink, red, and orange, depending on the depth of the water. The deepest parts of the lake turn bright red while the shallower sections have a pink or orange hue. Because it’s extremely hot in this area, the bacteria producing these color effects thrive.

Lake Natron tanzania
Lake Natron in Tanzania / Christoph Strässler / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

4. Lake Retba, Senegal

Lake Retba is another shallow lake that covers an area of about 3 square kilometers (1.15 square miles) in the western part of Senegal, a country in West Africa. It’s situated on Cap-Vert, a peninsula and the westernmost point in all of Africa. The lake is also sometimes referred to as “Lac Rose,” which translates to “Pink Lake.”

This lake is just a short drive away from the country’s capital of Dakar as this city is situated about 30 kilometers (18 miles) northeast of this lake. This extremely salty lake is also located in a region with an extremely hot climate. This is also the reason why the organisms producing its pink hue thrive as the water evaporates and the salt levels reach up to 40%.

Lake retba Senegal
Lake Retba or “Lac Rose” in Senegal / Manu25 / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

5. Masazir Lake, Azerbaijan

Masazir Lake is also sometimes referred to as “Masazirgol” and is a salty lake located in the Qaradag raion neighborhood of the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku. Just like many other famous pink lakes in the world, this one is situated on a peninsula called the Absheron Peninsula on the West coast of the Caspian Sea.

Even though the lake only covers an area of about 10 square kilometers (3.9 square miles), it contains such high levels of salt that an estimated 1,735 million tonnes of salt can be recovered from it. This has resulted in a salt-producing factory being built right next to the lake in 2010 which produces salt for 2 of the country’s most popular brands.

Lake Masazir Azerbaijan
Lake Masazir in Azerbaijan / Wiki Commons

6. Laguna Colorada, Bolivia

The Laguna Colorada or “Red Lagoon” is a very shallow salt lake located on the Altiplano of Bolivia. This extensive high plateau is also referred to as the “Andean Plateau” and is the location where the Andes Mountains are at its widest. It’s relatively big compared to some other pink lakes as it covers an area of 60 square kilometers (23 square miles).

This lake is part of the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve and is located near the border with Chile. The most distinctive feature of this lake is that it features so-called “borax islands,” a type of salt mineral that is white in color and which contrasts with the pinkish color of the lake.

Laguna Colorada Bolivia
Laguna Colorada in Bolivia / Luca Galuzzi / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5/deed.en