Forms of life[edit]
The only living organism in Lake Hillier is Dunaliella salina, the microorganism that causes the salt content in the lake to create a red dye, hence the colour. Another hypothesis is that the pink colour is due to red halophilic bacteria in the salt crusts. Despite the unusual hue, the lake exhibits no known adverse effects upon humans. From above, the lake appears a solid bubble gum pink, but from the shoreline it appears more of a clear pink hue. The shoreline is also covered in salt crust deposits.
Safety and accessibility[edit]
Despite the high salt content levels (comparable to those of the Dead Sea), Lake Hillier is safe to swim in.[11] However, there are very few ways to reach Lake Hillier. Helicopter is one of the most common methods of travel. Cruises are also an option for passengers wanting to visit the isolated lake, and surrounding forest area.