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Turkey’s Salt Lake turns crimson
Turkey’s Salt Lake turns crimson
Turkey’s Salt Lake turns crimson
The 1,665-square-km lake in Central Anatolia is seen as ice blue in winter and white in summer. Nowadays, many parts of it are crimson.
Turkey’s Salt Lake turns crimson
Turkey’s Salt Lake turns crimson
Mehmet Sait Koyuncu, the R&D manager of a salt field in the area, told Anadolu Agency on July 16 the region received more rain than usual this year, dramatically affecting the salinity of the lake’s waters, which led to the color change.
Turkey’s Salt Lake turns crimson
The reason of the color change is Dunaliella salina, a type of micro-algae especially found in sea salt fields.
Turkey’s Salt Lake turns crimson
Turkey’s Salt Lake turns crimson
To protect itself from lower levels of salinity, this algae produces glycerin and vitamin A, which makes the compound that is popularly known as beta-Carotene.
Turkey’s Salt Lake turns crimson
It is not yet possible for the cosmetic industry to harvest this useful compound for commercial purposes, but this colorful transformation is still beneficial to humanity - and the animal world.
Turkey’s Salt Lake turns crimson
“These algae increase the speed of salt production in the lake and positively affects the quality of the salt,” Koyuncu said, adding the color of the salt remains white as seen on family tables across Turkey and the countries that import the Tuz Gölü product.
Turkey’s Salt Lake turns crimson
Turkey’s Salt Lake turns crimson
Turkey’s Salt Lake turns crimson
Turkey’s Salt Lake turns crimson
Turkey’s Salt Lake turns crimson
Turkey’s Salt Lake turns crimson
Turkey’s Salt Lake turns crimson
Turkey’s Salt Lake turns crimson
Turkey’s Salt Lake turns crimson
Turkey’s Salt Lake turns crimson
Turkey’s Salt Lake turns crimson
Turkey’s Salt Lake turns crimson
Turkey’s Salt Lake turns crimson
Turkey’s Salt Lake turns crimson
Turkey’s Salt Lake turns crimson
Turkey’s Salt Lake turns crimson
Turkey’s Salt Lake turns crimson
Moreover, Dunaliella salina is the basic food of another algae, artemia salina, which is consumed by flamingos. “These birds visit this lake thanks to these algae,” Koyuncu said.
Turkey’s Salt Lake turns crimson
Turkey’s second largest lake, Tuz Gölü (Salt Lake), has turned crimson in a spectacular show of nature. Click through to see why. (Photos: Murat Öner TAŞ - Anadolu Agency)
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