Maharashtra’s Lonar Lake, which is situated in the Buldhana district, has suddenly turned pink overnight, prompting scientists to probe into it. The lake is said to have formed when a meteorite crashed into the spot 500,000 years ago. This has been a famous tourist attraction for several years, as well as a hotspot for researchers.
It is hypothesized that this pink colouring might be because of the overpopulation of a bacterial strain called Halobacteriacaeae. This isn’t the first time this has happened, since the unique nature of the lake supports different kinds of bacteria that are not found elsewhere.
The strange geological composition of the lake attracts a lot of research around it. This is linked to the fact that it is highly alkaline in nature, and has a pH of 10.5, which makes it extremely alkaline as well as saline at the same time.
It is also a designated geo-heritage monument, and is the world’s biggest basaltic impact crater.