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WST - Pink Lake Traditional Cache

Hidden : 7/8/2017
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:


Pink Lake

Pink Lake might look delicious with its pink colour, but you definitely would not want to try drinking it. It’s so salty that lakes like this are being used by scientists to develop our understanding of early Mars, as well as experiment with new techniques that could be used in planetary investigations.

In 2015 the eXtreme Microbiome Project found that the most likely cause is a bacterium producing a pigment called bacterioruberin. This pigments helps the bacterium collect light to produce energy. Depending on conditions, half of the lake is a distinctive pink colour whilst the other half remains blue. The lake is generally at its most vibrant during the peak of summer, where heat and high salinity provide the ideal environment for the bacterium.

This site is part of the Wheatbelt Science Trail and GeoTrail, you can find more information or other sites of interest across the region on the map.

 

The Cache

The cache is a short 90mm PVC tube, please post a photo of the lake with your log so we can see the lake changing color

 

 

 

Additional Hints (No hints available.)