Pink Salt Lakes

Lake Maharloo, a seasonal salt lake in Iran, exhibits high salinity levels, with salt concentrations fluctuating depending on rainfall and evaporation rates.

During the dry season, as water levels drop and evaporation intensifies, the lake’s salt molarity (moles of salt per liter of water) and molality (moles of salt per kilogram of water) can increase dramatically, creating a hyper-saline environment.

Salt concentrations may reach levels comparable to those in the Dead Sea, often exceeding 300 g/L in molarity.

This high salt concentration often results in a vibrant pink or red coloration due to halophilic (salt-loving) microorganisms thriving in such saline conditions.

The extreme salinity impacts the lake's ecosystem, limiting the types of organisms that can survive there, while creating unique environmental and scientific research opportunities.