Pink Baku

Flying into Baku this morning over Lake Masazir, one of apparently 8 pink lakes in the world.  Salt has been harvested here since the early 1800s.  Indeed, the early impetus for the growth of Baku was "oil, salt and saffron".

Why is the water pink?  Apparently, salt lakes are inhabited by Dunaliella salina, an algae which emits a reddish pigment that makes the lake pink.  Apparently, the algae are most active in summer hence today's vivid colour.