Don't Skip Spain's Only Bubblegum Pink Lake On Your Next Adventure
By Jennifer Anandanayagam
VACATIONS
Spain has plenty to offer that makes it a unique location to visit, such as the must-see bubblegum pink lake just outside of Torrevieja on the Costa Blanca.
The pink color of Laguna Salada de Torrevieja is a natural phenomenon caused by a certain kind of bacteria and algae — Halobacterium (salt bacterium) and Dunaliella salina.
Dunaliella salina algae contain a very high concentration of a carotenoid pigment called beta-carotene, and the Halobacterium has a pigmented protein called bacteriorhodopsin.
These factors lend themselves to making the Torrevieja lake pink. The saltwater brine shrimp are also pink due to eating the rosy-hued microorganisms and algae.
Thousands of flamingos visit the lake during the breeding season, who feed on this shrimp and end up sporting pink-tinted feathers.
Laguna Salada de Torrevieja is about a 4-hour, 25-minute drive from Madrid and 40 minutes from Alicante airport. There are several ways to see it, like an excursion from Alicante.