Ras Al Khaimah: A nature lover has turned heads after he discovered a pink lake near the Ras Al Khaimah coastline.
Nineteen-year-old university student Ammar Al Farsi captured stunning photos of what he affectionately called the “Pink Lake”, which quickly spread across social networking sites in the UAE.
The pictures were taken with a drone around 100 metres away from the coast at Saraya Islands, located in the Al Rams area of Ras Al Khaimah. The lake, Al Farsi described, was approximately 10m wide and 40m in length.
In an article published by the website howstuffworks.com, it explained that Halobacteria and the algae Dunaliella salina cause lakes to turn pink in colour, as they both which thrive in salty environments. The carotenoid red pigments secreted by Halobacteria and d. salina are responsible for the pink lakes' colours. These same algae also flourish in the Dead Sea.
Dr. Saif Al Ghais, Director General of the Environment Protection and Development Authority in Ras AlKhaimah, who was quoted in the Arabic daily Al Khaleej, said: “The water discoloration and its transformation to pink is due to the proliferation of red algae, which include more than 4,000 species.”
He added that the actual cause for the lake’s colouration cannot be determined until samples are taken from the site, analysed and scientifically studied.
