A team of scientists from the Nagpur-based National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) will visit the Lonar lake in Maharashtra's Buldhana district next week and collect its water samples to analyse why it has turned pink, an official said.
The oval-shaped Lonar lake, formed after a meteorite hit the Earth around 50,000 years ago, is a popular tourist hub and also attracts scientists from across the world. The mean diameter of the lake is around 1.2 km.
The colour of the lake water has recently turned pink, which has not only surprised locals, but nature enthusiasts and scientists as well.
Some experts have attributed it to the salinity and presence of algae in the water body. They have said that this is not the first time the colour change has happened, although it is more evident this time.
When contacted, Buldhana Collector Suman Chandra said, "Lonar lake comes under the jurisdiction of the forest department as it has been declared a sanctuary. The department has sent water samples to NEERI. Nonetheless, the institute will be sending a team of scientists to the site on June 15 to collect samples for analysis."
"They will analyse the water to know the exact reason behind the change in its colour," she said.
Lonar crater lake was identified as a unique geographical site by a British officer named CJE Alexander in 1823.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Maharashtra's Lonar Lake To Get More Tourism Facilities: Uddhav Thackeray India Names Lonar Lake, Sur Sarovar As Wetlands Of International Importance Lonar Lake Turned Pink Overnight In Maharashtra. What Caused It 'Entire NEET Paper Solved In 45 Minutes Before Exam?': Top Court To Centre "Had God On My Side": Donald Trump Recounts Being Shot At During Rally 32 Dead In Bangladesh Unrest, Protesters Set Fire To State TV Headquarters "Every Time I Try To Eat Healthy" - Video Creator's Editing Skills Amaze Internet Watch: Comedian's Wholesome Interaction With Indian-Origin Woman Is Viral Donald Trump Accepts Republican Nomination Amid Chants Of USA From Crowd Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.