Lake Köbeituz

Lake Köbeituz (Kazakh: Көбейтұз көлі) or Lake Kobeytuz is a salt lake in Kazakhstan. Located at an altitude of 253 meters above sea level, on the territory of the Ereymentau District of the Akmola Region, northeast of the city of Ereymentau.

Lake Köbeituz
Lake Köbeituz
Lake Köbeituz
LocationAkmola Region
Coordinates51°44′33″N 73°32′51″E
TypeSalt lake
Native nameКөбейтұз  (Kazakh)
Surface elevation253 meters (830 ft)

The lake turns pink every few years. It is believed that the presence of the algae Dunaliella salina gives the water a pink tint.[1] Because of the unusual warm weather which gave the lake its chromatic effect, the place drew more visitors. This resulted in environmental damage to the lake’s delicate ecosystem with large natural salts being dug up which some of it was sold on social media, claiming it as a cure for diarrhea and COVID-19 and unpicked trash being left around.[2] As a result, the lake was closed to visitors by authorities on 20 July 2020.[3] According to the deputy head of the local government Battal Ibrayev, the damage in the lake would take 10 to 15 years to repair itself.[4]

References
  1. September 2019, Diana Vassilenko in Tourism on 7 (2019-09-07). "Kazakhstan's social media sensation and pink-coloured lake is just two hours from the capital". The Astana Times. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
  2. "Police found sellers of salt from Lake Kobeytuz - Новости Казахстана - свежие, актуальные, последние новости об о всем". kazpravda.kz (in Russian). Retrieved 2020-08-11.
  3. "Kazakhstan: Pink lake threatened by lockdown-weary visitors | Eurasianet". eurasianet.org. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
  4. "Kazakhstan's Pink Lake Suffers". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
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