Tuz Golu Lake In Turkey Has Suddenly Turned A Beautiful Crimson Red, Thanks To Algae

This Lake In Turkey Has Suddenly Turned A Beautiful Crimson Red
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No, it's not the red sea. It's actually a lake in Turkey, which has turned a stunning crimson red thanks to a special type of algae - which is also used in cosmetics.

Tuz Golu, which is the country's second largest lake, translates as "salt lake", as it often dries up in the summer, exposing a 30cm-thick salt layer. However it also plays host to a huge bloom of Dunaliella salinas algae, Mashable reports, which is responsible for turning the water a deep red.

Turkey Tuz Golu lake turns red (list)
(01 of09)
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A view from the 'Salt Lake' in Aksaray, Turkey on July 16, 2015. Dunaliella salinas, a type of halophile micro-algae especially found in sea/lake salt fields, colorize a part of the lake this season of the year. (credit:Photo by Murat Oner Tas/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
(02 of09)
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(credit:Photo by Murat Oner Tas/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
(03 of09)
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(credit:Photo by Murat Oner Tas/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
(04 of09)
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(credit:Photo by Murat Oner Tas/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
(05 of09)
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(credit:Photo by Murat Oner Tas/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
(06 of09)
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Flamingos are seen at the 'Salt Lake' in Aksaray, Turkey on July 16, 2015. Dunaliella salinas, a type of halophile micro-algae especially found in sea/lake salt fields, colorize a part of the lake this season of the year (credit:Photo by Murat Oner Tas/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
(07 of09)
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(credit:Photo by Murat Oner Tas/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
(08 of09)
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(credit:Photo by Murat Oner Tas/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
(09 of09)
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(credit:Photo by Murat Oner Tas/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)