A pond in Hawaii has turned an enigmatic bright pink hue, raising questions among specialists about this strange phenomenon. Spectators have been milling around the pond with curiosity since the photos went viral on social media.
Some of the volunteers at Maui’s Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge have been on the water for seven decades and say they’ve never seen anything like it.
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- What happened to the pond in Hawaii?
- When this happened?
- How did it turn pink?
What happened to the pond in Hawaii?
Credit: SkyNews
The Hawaiian pond has turned a strange bubblegum pink color that looks like it belongs on the set of “Barbie,” but that’s not enough to throw a dance party.
Scientists say the unusual color could be due to drought and advise against drinking or going near the water.
When this happened?
Since October 30, staff at Maui’s Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge have been monitoring the pink water.
Shelter manager Bret Wolfe said, “I just got a report from someone who was walking on the beach and called me saying, ‘There’s something strange going on here.'”
Credit: AP
How did it turn pink?
The deep pink hue alarmed shelter director Bret Wolfe, but laboratory studies revealed that harmful algae was not the source of the color. Alternatively, halobacteria are a possible culprit.
One type of archaea or single-celled organism that thrives in highly salinized waterways is halobacteria.
Currently, the salinity within the outlet area of Kealia Pond exceeds 70 parts per thousand, which is equivalent to twice the salinity of seawater.
According to Wolfe, the lab will need a DNA study to confirm the identity of the organism. The drought on Maui is likely to exacerbate the situation. Waikapu Creek normally flows into Kealia Pond, raising water levels there, but Wolfe said he hasn’t done so in a long time.
The stream flows into the main Kealia pond and the now pink outlet area when it rains. This will decrease the salinity and perhaps alter the color of the water.
Credit: AP
Wolfe commented, “That might be what makes it go away.” Even volunteers who have been around the pond for 70 years have never seen it this shade before at the shelter. Although the pond has previously experienced periods of drought and excessive salinity, Wolfe is unsure of the reason behind the current change in tone.
After images of the pink pond appeared on social media, curious park visitors have flocked to it. The wildlife refuge is a wetland that serves as habitat for the endangered Hawaiian coots, or alae keokeo, and Hawaiian stilts.
In winter, migratory birds also spend their time there.
Credit: AP
According to Wolfe, the water does not seem to harm the birds. People cannot walk on the surface of the pond or allow their pets to swim in it because it is a wildlife refuge.
However, since the cause of the tone is still unknown, authorities are taking extra precautions to alert the public not to go into the water or consume any fish caught there.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn