Location of Pink Lakes in Victoria
Some people see photos of beautiful bubblegum pink lakes from overseas and don't realise that Victoria has a number of pink lakes including one under the Westgate bridge in Melbourne.
Why are lakes pink?
The lakes which turn pink are very salty which is the perfect habitat for a single-celled algae, Dunaliela salina, that is very well adapted to live only in extremely salty conditions. When the weather and water conditions are just right, the algae produces pink or red cartenoids to protect their chlorophyll cells and help photosynthesis, which gives the lake its pink colour.
When is the Best Time to See the Colour?
It's never possible to guarantee that the lakes will be a beautiful deep pink because the intensity of colour varies throughout the year but the intensity is strongest when it is warm and after rains wash in fresh nutrients, triggering increased growth of the algae.
Westgate Park Lake is the exception. The lake in the centre of the park turns a vibrant pink when conditions are right, roughly once a year. This occurs when there is a long enough dry spell and the water from the lake evaporates enough to change to extremely salty which activates the algae. As soon as the rain comes and dilutes the water, or the weather gets cold and overcast, the pink colour disappears as the algae stops producing the pink cartenoids.
It's not recommended to wade into pink water, since the extremely high level of saltiness can irritate your skin.
If you are looking for pink coloured cliffs, head to the Pink Cliffs near Heathcote. They are an interesting and colourful phenomenon which was exposed by early gold mining activities.
Location of Pink Lakes in Victoria
.jpg "View Dimboola - Pink Lake")
Pink Lake is located about 7 kilometers west of Dimboola, next to the Western Highway. The lake can be easily viewed from the rest-stop beside the highway and you can also walk dow ..
Murray-Sunset National Park, in Victoria's far north-west corner, is in one of the few remaining semi-arid regions in the world where the environment is relatively untouched. With ..
5 km north of Sea Lake just off the Calder Highway is a viewing platform overlooking Lake Tyrrell, the largest salt lake in Victoria. The salt is mined every year by Cheetham Salt, ..
Westgate Park offers a range of attractions and activities within close proximity to the city. It is located along the eastern banks of the Yarra River under the Westgate Bridge an ..
