Pink pond in Hawaii: why this natural phenomenon means nothing good. Refugee ship ‘Ocean Viking’ rescues 128 migrants in the Mediterranean Sea

It looks like something out of the Barbie movie: a pink pond in Hawaii.

But the pond landscape was not colored for a second Barbie film. The discoloration is a natural phenomenon.

The color spectacle attracts tourists, but raises one thing above all: concern.

The color is not just a photo motif, but an indicator of environmental stress, writes the New York Times. The newspaper spoke to a scientist about the phenomenon. “The discoloration is actually a red flashing light. The ecology of this area is in serious danger,” said Dr. Shiladitya DasSarma, professor of microbiology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Water samples from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service suggest that halobacteria are responsible for the discoloration. The microorganisms thrive in water with a high salt content. And this is currently twice as high as in the sea. Combined with dry conditions resulting from Maui’s drought, the pond created ideal conditions for the halobacteria to spread.

Feared fish kills

According to DasSarma, the bacteria pose no danger to humans, but for most fish the high salt content can be a death sentence.

No one has ever seen the pond this color, ABC News writes. Staff at Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge on Maui have been studying the water since October 30, 2023. Since the first images were shared on social media, the wetland has become a tourist attraction.

Pink colored waters are not uncommon. The natural phenomenon can be found in a wide variety of places around the world, including Australia, Mexico, Azerbaijan, Senegal, Spain and Crimea.

Still, the scientist is concerned: “The color indicates extreme weather conditions as a result of climate change.” (cst)