Lake Hillier

Lake Hillier is a picturesque saline lake located off the south coast of Western Australia.

It is known for its pink tint, which sets it apart from other lakes. Lake Hillier is approximately 600 meters long and 250 meters wide. Its vibrant, permanent pink color remains even when the water is taken in a container. The lake is surrounded by a rim of sand and dense woodlands of paperbark and eucalyptus trees. The pink color is believed to be due to the presence of an organism called Dunaliella salina, along with other microorganisms found in the lake.

There is no recorded history surrounding Lake Hillier. It is a unique ecosystem with only a few known living organisms present, including Dunaliella salina, red algae, red halophilic bacteria, bacterioruberin, and Psychroflexus. Despite its unusual hue, the lake has no known adverse effects on humans. From above, the lake appears bubble gum pink, while from the shoreline, it has a clear pink hue. The shoreline is covered in salt crust deposits.

Lake Hillier is safe for swimming with prior approval from the Western Australia Department of Environment Conservation. Aeroplane scenic flights are the most common way to reach the lake, departing from Esperance Airport and flying over Lake Hillier via Cape Le Grand National Park. Cruises are also available for those wanting to visit the isolated lake and surrounding forest area.

Lake Hillier is located within the Recherche Archipelago Nature Reserve and has been designated as a wetland of "subregional significance" since 2002.