Locals stunned as wetlands suddenly turns pink in mysterious circumstances
Topics: Australia, News, World News, Nature, Environment, Weird
Kit Roberts
Featured Image Credit: 7News
Topics: Australia, News, World News, Nature, Environment, Weird
People in Queensland have been left perplexed after an area of wetland turned a bright shade of pink.
You might think that it's a bit late for another bout of viral marketing for Barbie starring Margot Robbie, but this particular pink bonanza has nothing to do with the movie.
It's certainly an unusual sight, and you'd be forgiven for being concerned that it was the result of some sort of environmental catastrophe.
Pink is certainly not a color you would expect to see in a wetland, it even looks like the color of laundry detergent or hand wash.
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But the Boondall Wetlands in Queensland, Australia has done just that at Nudgee Beach. It's a brightly-colored change from the usual muddy brown color of the water.
Fortunately on this occasion the pink hue is not the result of lots of chemicals being spilt into the water.
It is in fact a natural phenomenon.
Brisbane City Council Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner clarified that although it is natural, the council is still monitoring the situation.
He said: "When we get changes in weather conditions, and it has been very dry recently, this is what has contributed to the change of the colour of the water."
So what exactly is causing the strange change in color in the wetlands?
Griffith University Professor Michele Burford has claimed that the likely cause is a species of algae which has a pink pigment.
Burford said: "You might get a slight breeze that might push them in and concentrate them up in an area.
"I think that's what we're seeing here, a concentration of pink algae."
But the professor warned that if anyone wants to see the bubblegum-colored waters they better get a move on as it may not be around for long.
"They're probably only going to hang around for a while and then the wind or the tide or something will disperse them out again and you won't see them anymore", said Burford.
Schrinner said: "It's quite rare, it's a great opportunity to get out and check out the wetlands in our local area because you might not see this in the future for a while."
Fascinating!
Who knew that algae could have such fabulous colors? And what a relief that it is a natural phenomenon which will disperse rather than something being spilled into the water.