The world is full of wonders. Some are common and you can see them every day, while others are an adventure for many, taking them to different parts of the world. Pink lakes are one of those natural wonders — special, unique and beautiful sights. Some lakes get their color from the pigments produced by algae, and others because of their extremely high concentration of salt.
They may not be the biggest ones or the best to swim in, but they are popular tourist sights and even trendy destinations for weddings. If you want to see one, here are the amazing pink lakes around the world that will leave you breathless.
The salty hills of the Pekelmeer Lake
Situated on a small island of Bonaire in the Caribbean Sea, Pekelmeer Lake is a sight to behold. The gentle pink waters stand out thanks to the white and salty hills surrounding this lake. Unlike other pink lakes, this one gets its color from the thousands of brine shrimps living here.
Because of this, there is a good chance that not only will you take photos of this magnificent lake, but also its most frequent visitor – the flamingo birds. The flocks of Caribbean flamingos come here to feast on these shrimps and create a spectacle you will rarely see anywhere else in the world.
Laguna Colorada – A pink light in the Andes
Just by the Chilean border, Laguna Colorada in Bolivia is a shallow pink lake that James’ flamingos call home. The lake is surrounded by the Andes Mountains providing a perfect contrast to its pinkish and coppery hues. This colorful attribute comes from the algae and red mineral sediments which are transformed into pink thanks to the presence of borax.
This mountainous terrain is perfect to escape the city and stay for a weekend at one of the villages nearby. Since Laguna Colorada is part of the nature preserve, you will also have a lot of other natural beauties to see, as well as animal and plant life.
Stop for a glass of wine by Lake Bumbunga
There are more reasons than a wonderfully pink color of Lake Bumbunga to come to this Australian destination. Located close to Clare Valley, one of the most famous wine regions in the country, this lake is a popular spot for photos among photographers, influencers and average Joes.
Since the lake’s color is not always the same, you have to choose wisely when to come here. During summer, when the salinity of Lake Bumbunga is the highest, the whole area is irradiated by its bright pink glow. During other seasons, the hue changes to white and blue, depending on the presence of salt in the water at the time.
Fly on a day trip to Lake Hillier
Lake Hillier is a 1,968 feet long-hidden gen of Western Australia located on the Middle Island. Since the vegetation around this pink lake is too dense for hiking, the only way to approach it is by private jet hire from Perth or on a cruise boat. The water of Lake Hillier is so vibrantly pink that it resembles giant bubblegum, and it won’t change even if you take some of it and place it in a jar.
Eucalyptus forest on Middle Island and deep blue hue of the ocean make Lake Hillier truly stand out with its beauty. So, it’s no wonder that many couples come here to get married or to capture romantic moments on its coast.
The salt mining in the Lake Retba
Lake Retba in Senegal attracts both tourists and locals who not only want to see it’s incredible color but also witness the salt mining. Since the lake has more salinity than the Dead Sea, it is one of the important sources of salt for the country. Collectors have to cover their bodies in shea butter to protect the skin before they go into the water. This is not an easy job since they harvest the salt from the bottom and transfer it to the boat they also need to drag behind them.
The water changes the color during the day, being the most oink at noon and normal looking just before the evening. Considering Lake Retba is close to Dakar, it’s a perfect reason to make a day trip and even spend the night here to see all these changes of colors.
Meet the flamingoes of Las Salinas de Torrevieja
Las Salinas de Torrevieja in Spain has a strong pink hue that perfectly goes with its main inhabitants – 2,000 flamingoes. This lake has therapeutic properties, especially for people suffering from skin and lung diseases. Just grab some of it mud to spread on your skin, and let it stay there like a face mask for a few minutes until it dries.
Since Las Salinas de Torrevieja has high salinity you won’t be able to swim in it, but rather float like you would in the Dead Sea. This makes it an ideal way to relax and turn the whole trip into a day at the natural spa.
All in all
All these amazing pink lakes around the world are a perfect example of how many wonderful things there are in nature. If you are ever in the vicinity of one, don’t think twice to have a day trip at its pink waters. Not only will you leave with great photos, but also with memories of magical moments when you hung out with pink flamingos.
