Pink pond boosts park visitors - 4th Dec 2023

Some people may think this image isn't real, but this Hawaiian lake is actually bright pink. While it looks very strange, experts have decided it's caused by natural events.

The park rangers at Keālia know it looks pretty, but they've warned visitors, as well as their pets, to keep away.

Scientists have decided that the source of the problem is red-coloured bacteria, 'halobacteria', which grow in water with a high salt level, like the Dead Sea. Keālia lake has become saltier and saltier, as the dry weather's stopped fresh water from flowing into it. The lake's now twice as salty as seawater, a perfect environment for the bacteria.

The lack of rainfall on the Hawaiian island has created big problems for wildlife and local economies. According to the Hawai'i Farm Bureau, in the last 20 years, it's cost the state millions of dollars. For the US as a whole, water shortages are, except for hurricanes, the most costly natural disaster. Farm animals suffer directly, and there are dangerous wildfires.

Keālia park's a nature reserve which attracts a range of water birds, but so far, none of the birds seem to be harmed by the pink water.

Instead, park manager Bret Wolfe's been shocked at the rise in visitor numbers. It isn't the beautiful birds they've come to see, but the strawberry pink lake!

The state government's warned that similar weather is to continue over the next few months, as a result of El Niño, so it seems the pink water's here to stay.