*By Andria Papadopoulou

In recent days, the Larnaca Salt Flats have been “dressed” in shades of pink, creating a stunning spectacle for locals and foreign visitors alike.

The Alpha News program and reporter Olga Konstantinou visited the site and captured breathtaking images, as well as gathering explanations regarding the phenomenon that occurs every summer.

According to the Department of Water Resources, the change in the lake’s color is due to intense evaporation and a sharp increase in salinity caused by high temperatures. It is worth noting that the salinity of the lake’s water is nine times higher than that of seawater, a fact that favors the bloom of a specific species of phytoplankton, Dunaliella salina, as well as the formation of cysts by the same species. This organism, as well as its cysts, has a high concentration of beta-carotene, which gives the lake its vivid color. Consequently, this phenomenon is natural and occurs when the aforementioned conditions prevail in the lake.

The particularly small volume of water and the shallow ecosystem make the color of Alyki even more intense and distinctive,as these conditions contribute to the more dense growth of the green alga Dunaniella. This phenomenon is also observed in other neighboring lakes, provided the same climatic conditions prevail.

The change in the lake’s color is seasonal and lasts for a short period, mainly during the months of June and July. Over time, the lake returns to its typical state as evaporation continues and the water gradually disappears.

 The Larnaca Salt Pans and the neighboring salt pans of the Salt Pans Complex are protected wetlands. Visitors, therefore, must show particular respect for the landscape, observing it from a distance in the specially designated areas surrounding it. In addition, visitors should be mindful of potential hazards, such as sinking into the muddy bottom of the lake. It is also important to maintain the tranquility of the area so as not to disturb the local wildlife.