Pink Lake (Western Australia)

Pink Lake
Pink Lake at sunset
Pink Lake at sunset
A map of Western Australia with a mark indicating the location of Pink Lake
A map of Western Australia with a mark indicating the location of Pink Lake
Pink Lake
LocationGoldfields-Esperance, Western Australia
Coordinates33°50′43″S 121°49′40″E / 33.84528°S 121.82778°E / -33.84528; 121.82778
TypeSalt lake
Basin countriesAustralia
Max. length4 km (2 mi)
Max. width2 km (1 mi)
Surface area99 ha (245 acres)[1]
Surface elevation0 m (0 ft)
References[1]
Map

Pink Lake (previously known as Lake Spencer) is a salt lake in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia.[2] Although historically the water in the lake was visibly pink, as of 2017 it had not been pink for over ten years.[3] Salt concentration is vital to Pink Lake's pink hue, and Pink Lake may turn pink again as conditions change. It lies about 3 kilometres (2 mi) west of Esperance and is bounded to the east by the South Coast Highway.

The dynamics of why a lake turns pink are very complex. External changes and weather conditions can affect the colour of the lake. Esperance's Pink Lake has lost its pink colour due to salinity changes caused by human activity.

  1. ^ a b "Map of Pink Lake, WA". Bonzle Digital Atlas. 2009. Retrieved 28 March 2009.
  2. ^ Pink Lake, Esperance - the discovery of and use of the lake Esperance traveller, Summer 1990, p.34
  3. ^ de Garis, Christian (27 November 2017). "Famous Esperance Pink Lake fades, leaving tourists confused and town with an identity crisis". ABC News. Archived from the original on 21 January 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2018.