Lake becomes pink in Hawaii - 4th Dec 2023

This lake in Hawaii has turned pink. Scientists want to know why.

It looks like a picture, but Keālia Park has asked visitors and their pets to stay away. The strawberry-coloured water isn't safe to drink.

Scientists believe it's caused by a type of red bacteria - 'halobacteria'. The bacteria live in lakes where there are large amounts of salt.

The problem's because there's been no rainfall in Hawaii. These days, little water enters the lake. That raises the amount of salt so it's saltier than seawater. And that's perfect for halobacteria.

Recently, Hawaii's wildlife and the economy have suffered. The lack of rain is costing the state millions of dollars. In the US, this is the second most expensive natural disaster, after hurricanes. It's bad for farm animals, and the danger of wildfires increases.

This park's a nature reserve, a special site for water birds. The park keepers say the bacteria haven't damaged their birds.

The park manager - Bret Wolfe - has been surprised at the number of visitors. But they're interested in the bright pink water, not the wildlife!

The Hawaii government's predicting more strange weather, due to El Niño. So it looks as if this Barbie pink water will be here for a while.