Lake Tuz is Turkey's second largest lake and one of the world's largest hypersaline lakes. Located in the Central Anatolia region, this remarkable body of water is famous for its dramatic color changes throughout the year, ranging from brilliant pink and salmon to crystal white, and sometimes even green and blue, depending on seasonal conditions and the presence of salt-tolerant microorganisms.
The lake turns pink due to the presence of salt-tolerant algae like Dunaliella salina, which produces carotenoid pigments. These microorganisms thrive in the hypersaline conditions, creating the characteristic pink and salmon colors that make Lake Tuz so visually striking.
During drought periods, the lake's water evaporates, leaving behind thick layers of salt crystals. The intense sunlight reflects off these white salt deposits, creating the lake's striking white appearance that contrasts dramatically with its colorful phases.
Datasets from MODIS instrument of the satellite Terra are used to find days with clear sky and to determine colors in the lake.
Lake Tuz's spectacular pink coloration occurs under specific environmental conditions that create the perfect habitat for salt-tolerant microorganisms like Dunaliella salina and halophilic bacteria.
These microorganisms thrive when salinity levels reach 15-35% and water temperatures range between 20-35°C, conditions that typically occur during the hot, dry summer months when evaporation concentrates the salt content.
During periods of heavy rainfall, the lake's salinity decreases significantly, and the characteristic blue color becomes more visible as the pink-pigmented microorganisms become less dominant in the diluted environment.
