Utah Has One Of America's Only Pink Lakes
By Jennifer Anandanayagam
VACATIONS
Just an hour's drive from Salt Lake City, Utah’s Stansbury Island offers breathtaking views of a unique type of lake: a pink body of water that belongs to the Great Salt Lake.
The Great Salt Lake is the largest saline lake in the Western Hemisphere and has two areas — Stansbury Island and the northern bay by the Spiral Jetty — that are rosy in hue.
These areas are separated from the rest of The Great Salt Lake, so their salt concentrations are higher. The salty nature of the water means only bacteria and algae can grow there.
The halophile microalgae that thrive in such waterbodies contain pink carotenoids. There are also salt-loving bacteria in the lake that contain a rose-hued protein.
According to travel enthusiasts who've visited the lake, it's safe to swim in, as the bacteria are considered harmless. However, note that salty water can be abrasive on the skin.
Aside from enjoying the views, you can lounge on the beach and take drone videos, provided you obtain a $1 permit. The lake is most vibrant from late summer to mid-fall.