Melbourne’s pink lake: the most spectacular photos

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A park beside an industrial estate on the outskirts of Melbourne has become an unlikely tourist attraction, as visitors clamour to see its naturally pink lake.

The manmade lake in Westgate Park has undergone the transformation almost every summer since it was first recorded in 2012, the ABC reports. This year, the pink tinge first appeared in mid-February and has been growing steadily more vivid.

The spectacular sight is the result of the green algae in the lake producing a red pigment when exposed to prolonged sunlight and little rainfall.

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Before urban development in the area, the park was a salt marsh, and for that reason the lake contains a high level of salt.

A combination of these high salt levels and the hot and dry weather conditions causes the natural reaction in the algae. When temperatures cool, the algae will lose their pink glow and the lake will return to its usual murky green.

As far as natural phenomenons go, this one “seems made for social media feeds”, says the ABC. And indeed, flocking to the park to snap some selfies in front of the bright pink water has become a yearly ritual in Melbourne.

However, wildlife officials have warned selfie-seekers not to venture into the lake in search of the perfect shot.

Phil Pegler, conservation manager at Parks Victoria told the Herald Sun: “We recommend people avoid coming into contact with the water as it is very saline so can cause skin irritation.”

Check out a few of the best shots in our gallery.