Nature provides us with some of the most amazing phenomena, and in India, we might have seen this planet’s latest marvel. A 50,000-year-old crater lake near Mumbai has mysteriously turned pink overnight.
Leaving an Imprint
Almost 50,000 years ago, a meteorite crash-landed in Maharashtra State in India. Over the years, the crater filled with water to become the spectacular Lonar Lake, but practically overnight in June 2020, it changed color. Typically the water in the Lonar Lake is blue, but it reportedly switched to a reddish-pink in the blink of an eye. Now scientists are trying to figure out what could have caused such a dramatic change in the color of the lake’s water.
Testing the Water
There are thought to be a couple of reasons why the water went from blue to pink. Experts believe that the color change has occurred due to salinity levels increasing as the water level has lowered. With the reduction in the water level, the temperature of the lake is rising, which is leading to an overgrowth of algae. That overabundance of algae is thought to be why the water has turned a shade of pink as the temperature of the water hit a certain level.
Lonar Lake
Lonar Lake is one of the world’s largest craters to exist in volcanic rock with a depth of 500 feet. The lake remains a place of intrigue for scientists as the water is both alkaline and saline. For years it was thought the crater was created by a volcanic collision, but evidence of maskelynite proved a high-velocity cosmic impact created its existence. Lonar Lake has been a place of interest for scientists for generations, with its new pink water the latest attraction.
Even with everything else that has gone on in 2020, it’s amazing to see the planet is still throwing curveballs at us with this amazing lake transformation.