Algae turns lake pink in Romania due to increased temperature

Experts say the phenomenon is not harmful to the environment, but that the algae bloom may produce an unpleasant smell.

Transcript

00:00 This pink film covering parts of a saltwater lake shore in Constanta, Romania has appeared

00:06 after temperatures exceeded 30 degrees Celsius.

00:10 Specialists say that the sulfur bacteria in Lake Techirgheol precipitate like pink dust

00:15 on the light exposed parts of algae and thus change the water's color.

00:19 This phenomenon occurs especially on shore where saltwater concentrations are higher.

00:25 "It's fantastic, I've never seen anything like this before.

00:31 I suppose it's from algae.

00:34 It's very beautiful, unique.

00:36 I've seen it before, but I've never seen pink."

00:38 "What do you think about the color, ma'am?"

00:40 "It's very beautiful and interesting.

00:42 It's more like a cyclone.

00:44 It's special."

00:46 Experts say that the phenomenon is not dangerous.

00:48 On the contrary, it helps increase the quality of the mud in the lake.

00:52 "This pigment is a normal pigment.

00:55 It's characterized by salty colors, concentrated colors, but reddish with a high temperature.

01:00 Of course, there are many such situations in Africa.

01:03 And if you look at the Himalayan salt, it's reddish.

01:07 The salt obtained by natural desalinization in the sun goes through a stage of bacterial proliferation

01:14 of this type and reaches a reddish color."

01:18 The lake, renowned for its sapropelic mud, is highly sought after by tourists during this time of year.

01:23 "Here we don't have any hope of making mud.

01:27 We put the mud in the salt water.

01:29 We put it here and we stay here."

01:32 "Directly from the bottom of the lake.

01:34 Look.

01:35 Not even the finest cream is found.

01:38 Look.

01:39 And I've been working with this mud for 40 years.

01:46 And 40 years ago, when I came, I came as a sign of wonder, doubted in a way."

01:54 Lake Tagheagheol also experienced an unusual heat-related phenomenon last year,

01:59 when, due to prolonged drought, it receded by about 50 meters from its shores.

02:04 [SWOOSH]