| Pink Lake | |
|---|---|
| Eastern end from Observation Point | |
| Location | Goldfields-Esperance, Western Australia |
| Lake type | salt lake |
| Basin countries | Australia |
| Max. length | 4 km (2 mi) |
| Max. width | 2 km (1 mi) |
| Surface area | 99 ha (245 acres)[1] |
| Islands | none |
| References | [1] |
Pink Lake is a salt lake in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia. It lies about 3 kilometres (2 mi) west of Esperance and is bounded to the East by the South Coast Highway.
Contents |
The lake is not always pink in colour but the distinctive colour of the water when the lake is pink is a result of the green alga Dunaliella salina and the halobacterium Halobacteria cutirubrum. Once the lake water reaches a salinity level greater than that of sea water, the temperature is high enough and adequate light conditions are provided, the alga begins to accumulate the red pigment beta carotene. The pink halobacteria grow in the salt crust at the bottom of the lake and the colour of the lake is a result of the balance between D. salina and H. cutirubrum.[2]
The lake has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because it usually supports significant numbers of Hooded Plovers and sometimes over 1% of the world population of Banded Stilts.[3]
Prior to salt production the lake's environment was investigated in the 1980s [4] Table salt is produced in solar ponds at the eastern end of the lake.[5] The company WA Salt supply produce water softening salt, coarse salt and sheepskin salt at the Esperance site. The salt is kiln dried, crushed and bagged at the site before being distributed.[6]