The lake of Iranian salt water turned red like blood

Satellite images show that Lake Irmia in Iran normally turns green with a bloody red color on July 9.

According to Mystery Universe, Lake Irmia in northwest Iran is one of the largest saltwater lakes in the world . The image obtained from the planet shows that in April, the lake water was still green but in July, the lake turned crimson like blood.

Algae can cause lake water to change color . According to the Space Agency's Earth Observation Station (NASA), it is difficult to determine which algae make the lake water red.

Satellite images show that the lake water is green in April, crimson in July. (Photo: Mysterious Universe).

Dunaliella salina is often the culprit because algae cells produce carotenoids to protect them from the sun and salt, making them red. Another possibility is that halobacteriaceae bacteria are red like rubies and like to eat salt.

Irmia Lake area is rapidly shrinking, possibly due to crystalline salt. About 60 rivers and streams pour into the lake, bring salt in, but there is no river flowing with salt. Over time, crystalline salt around the rim of the lake makes the lake area narrow.

Scientist Mohammad Tourian at the University of Stuttgart, Germany, said satellite images show that the lake area is declining at an alarming rate of 220 km ² per year. In the past 14 years, the lake has lost 70% of its surface area, making the lake more salty.

The color change from the green to the dark red of Lake Irman may be permanent. This lake has changed color a few times, it turns green when it rains and snow melts, reducing salt salinity. However, with the climate change causing droughts, and the construction of dams and bridges on rivers that bring water into the lake today, Irmia may never be green again.