The Bright Red Algae of Tuz Golu Lake

Well, you’ve might see numerous pictures of pink lakes on the internet, but Tuz Golu is a unique addition to the pink lakes collection. “Tuz Golu” is one of the largest salt lakes in the world (Tuz Golu is the 2nd largest lake in Turkey), and lies in a tectonic depression in Turkey’s dry central plateau, situated in Aksaray.

The lake has a surface area of approximately 1,500 square kilometers and is situated at an altitude of 900 meters above sea level. It is fed by two main streams, the Kizilirmak, and the Delice, and has no outlet to the sea. The lake’s high salt content, which is about 32%, makes it uninhabitable for most forms of aquatic life, except for some microorganisms and halophyte plants.

The lake is just like a devil’s swimming pool due to the huge algae flourish, as Rosy Dunaliella Salina algae turn into a pink shade every year. However, you don’t need to worry, because this algae is completely harmless, its colors change not a sign of the apocalypse or an ecological disaster. Tuz Golu lake stretches across more than 580 square miles and is just three to six meters deep most of the year, also making it one of the largest hypersaline lakes in the world.

When the summer season starts, the lake water evaporates due to heat and killing plankton that normally eats the algae. When the summer heat is at its peak, the algae continuously thrives and will perhaps be red until the lake fully evaporates. The water organisms have antioxidant properties and are also highly rich in red beta-carotene which gives flamingos their pink color.

The Tuz Golu lake recedes and reddens every year, leaving behind cracked salt flats that supply half of Turkey’s salt, and enticing snap-happy tourists. So many photographers went to Turkey just to capture the crimson lake in all its glory.

Therefore, in 2001, Lake “Tuz Golu” was declared a particularly protected area, including all of the lake surface and surrounding waterbeds and a few of the key neighboring steppe areas. The famous Australian Pink lake is widely viral on the internet.

Despite its economic and tourist significance, Tuz Golu faces some environmental challenges. The lake’s high salt content and water level fluctuations have resulted in soil degradation, and the lake’s delicate ecosystem is threatened by pollution and overfishing. The Turkish government has taken steps to address these issues, such as implementing conservation and restoration programs, but the lake’s long-term health remains a concern.

Overall, Tuz Golu is a unique natural wonder and an important economic and cultural resource for the region. Its significance to Turkey’s history, economy, and environment makes it a destination worth visiting and preserving for generations to come.