Turkey's lakes turn pink as algae bloom triggers vivid color shift

Several Turkish lakes have acquired a striking pink hue during the summer months due to microscopic algae and halo bacteria producing red pigments. In the expansive Tuz Gölü, located across Konya, Ankara and Aksaray, high temperatures and increased evaporation have spurred algal growth, coating the surface in a pink‑red shade. Geology engineer Nurcan Özdemir noted that the organisms use the pigment to protect themselves from intense salt and heat, and that the colour also influences the plumage of the lake's resident flamingos.

Further east in Çanakkale, the heart‑shaped Kalpli Göl – a former inlet of the ancient Alexandria Troas harbor – has similarly reverted to its periodic pink coloration. Researchers attribute the change to rising salinity and summer heat prompting a bloom of the micro‑alga *Dunaliella salina*. The phenomenon, observed after a season of unusually heavy rainfall followed by warming, reinforces the lake's status as one of only a handful of pink lakes worldwide.

Both lakes attract tourists and birdwatchers, with flamingos feeding on the pigment‑rich algae, adding to the visual spectacle. Experts stress that while the colour change is a natural, dynamic process, maintaining ecological balance will require monitoring of human activities around the lakes.