Stunning pink lake in Australia park is amazing, look but don’t touch

This picture of pink lake water is similar what's happening at a salt lake in Westgate Park, Australia, where algae in the salt crust, high temperatures, sunlight and no rainfall turn the lake an incredible color of pink. Finn Propper/Flickr/(CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

This picture of pink lake water is similar what's happening at a salt lake in Westgate Park, Australia, where algae in the salt crust, high temperatures, sunlight and no rainfall turn the lake an incredible color of pink. Finn Propper/Flickr/(CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Talk about an algae bloom. A salt lake in Melbourne, Australia is a stunning color of pink in what park officials say is a naturally occurring phenomenon at Westgate Park.

“Algae growing in the salt crust at the bottom of the lake produces red pigment (beta carotene) as part of its photosynthesis process and in response to the extremely high salt levels,” the post said.

The park system is warning visitors to look, but don’t touch.

“We recommend you don’t come into contact with the water,” Parks Victoria said.

The lake is expected to return to its normal blue color in the winter with cooler weather and more rainfall.