The color of salt is so attractive! Unlock the secrets of China's most beautiful salt lakes

Say goodbye to the crowded popular attractions. This time, let’s change the channel and explore the colorful miracles hidden deep in the earth - the most beautiful salt lake in China. Let your soul take a salt-colored journey at any time!

01Qinghai Chaerhan Salt Lake

🔸Geographical location: Golmud City, Qinghai Province

🔸Lake area: about 5856 km², the largest salt lake in China

🔸Cause of formation: The color of the Chaerhan Salt Lake in Qinghai is mainly affected by the mineral content in its brine. The Chaerhan Salt Lake is rich in a variety of salts, including magnesium chloride , potassium chloride and lithium chloride . The concentrations of these chemicals in the brine are different, and they will show different colors as the water evaporates and different minerals crystallize. In addition, the growth and activity of microorganisms in the salt lake will also affect the color of the lake water, making the Chaerhan Salt Lake appear unique green.

02Dagetu Lake (Red Lake)

🔸Geographic location: Alxa Right Banner, Inner Mongolia

🔸Lake area: The lakes are distributed in a desert of about 47,000 km², and there is no specific area data yet

🔸Cause of formation: The red color of Lake Dagtu is mainly due to the presence of red pigments such as Artemia . Artemia feeds on salt marshes. As the salinity of the water increases, the astaxanthin content in Artemia increases, and the body color becomes redder and redder, causing the lake water to appear red. In addition, the lake water may also contain other trace elements such as potassium ions and magnesium ions, which also affect the color of the lake.

03Dongtaijinaier Lake

🔸Geographical location: Golmud City, Qinghai Province

🔸Lake area: about 120km²

🔸Cause of formation: The clear and transparent Tiffany blue of Dongtaijinaier Lake comes from its unique chemical composition. The lake is a super-large lithium deposit dominated by brine, which contains high concentrations of lithium and other minerals such as boron, potassium, sodium, and magnesium . Under certain environmental conditions, these minerals can affect the color of the lake water. In addition, a small amount of copper ions in the lake water also has an important influence on the blue color of the lake water.

04 Qinghai Chaka Salt Lake

🔸Geographic location: Wulan County, Qinghai Province

🔸Lake area: about 105km²

🔸Cause of formation: The color of Qinghai Chaka Salt Lake is mainly affected by the dissolved minerals and microbial activities in the lake water. Trace elements such as magnesium, sodium, potassium and the metabolites of microorganisms in the lake water act together on the optical properties of the lake water, making the lake water present a unique color. In addition, the color of Chaka Salt Lake is also greatly affected by light . On sunny days, the lake water usually presents a beautiful blue, while on cloudy days or in dim light, the lake water may appear white.

In the vast land of our country, salt lakes are like the colorful eyes of the earth, and every color is a masterpiece of nature. The emerald green of the Qarhan Salt Lake, the fiery red of the Dagtu Lake, the azure blue of the Dongtaijinaier Lake, and the blue and white of the Chaka Salt Lake... Together, they paint a vivid natural picture, allowing us to witness the miracle of ecological diversity on this land full of vitality.

References

[1] Wang Jianping. Why are salt lakes so colorful? People’s Daily.

[2] Wang, Y., Bao, G. Diversity of prokaryotic microorganisms in alkaline saline soil of the Qarhan Salt Lake area in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. Sci Rep 12, 3365 (2022).

[3] Geographical Salon. Why is the "Dagetu Lake" in the Badain Jaran Desert pink? Tencent.

[4] [Central media look at Qinghai] Colorful scenery丨Cool summer at Dongtai Jinaier Lake! The Paper·The Paper·Media.

[5] Ding Na. Dongtaijinaier: The most “expensive” lake in Qinghai. Qinghai Science and Technology News.

[6] Popular Science Headlines | This is the Chaka Salt Lake, which has enough salt to feed people for 70 years! How was it formed? The Paper.cn, The Paper.cn, Government Affairs.

Author: Guo Yichen

Planning & Editing: Tiara

Acknowledgements: Ma Zhifei, senior engineer of geological exploration, provided scientific guidance for this article.

Image source: Photo Network