Lake Hillier: Australia’s bubblegum pink lake that stays pink even when bottled

Nestled on Middle Island off the coast of Western Australia, Lake Hillier is a 2,000-foot-long natural wonder that looks like it was filled with strawberry milkshake. While many pink lakes change color with the seasons or temperature, Lake Hillier’s vibrant hue is permanent—if you scoop a glass of water out of the lake, it remains just as pink in the bottle.

What makes it truly "lit" is the science of survival. The color comes from a unique cocktail of extremophiles: Dunaliella salina (a salt-loving algae) and halophilic bacteria. These organisms produce red carotenoid pigments to protect themselves from the intense Australian sun. Despite its high salt content—nearly as salty as the Dead Sea—the water is technically safe to swim in, though the lake is now a protected nature reserve, meaning the only way to see this "neon" marvel is usually from the seat of a helicopter.

Source: Jaimen Hudson