The story of this place
Lake Hillier on Middle Island in the Recherche Archipelago is Western Australia's most famous pink lake, though Pink Lake near Esperance on the mainland also displays extraordinary pink colouration at certain times of year. The vivid pink colour is caused by the carotenoid pigment produced by Dunaliella salina algae and haloarchaea microorganisms in the hypersaline water. The colour is most intense during the warmer months and after rainfall when the salt concentration is optimal. Lake Hillier is accessible only by scenic flight from Esperance, which provides the iconic aerial perspective of the bubblegum-pink lake ringed by dense green vegetation and the blue Southern Ocean. Pink Lake on the mainland is accessible by road and provides ground-level compositions with the pink water against coastal bushland.