① Hawaiian Pond Turns Pink
A clear and transparent pond in Hawaii has turned entirely pink, stirring a buzz. This is the Kealia Pond, located in the south-central part of Maui Island. Since the end of last month, the pond has turned pink and continues to maintain the same color.
Hawaiian authorities have asked the University of Hawaii to investigate why the pond’s color has changed. The University of Hawaii suggested that a unicellular organism called ‘halobacteria’ could be the cause. Halobacteria are organisms found in high-saline waters like the Dead Sea. The current salinity of this pond is higher than 70ppt (parts per thousand), which is twice as high as seawater’s. The high salinity provides favorable conditions for the proliferation of halobacteria, which could be why the water turned pink, according to the analysis.
After the pond turned pink, it has been reported that there is no toxicity in the water. The University of Hawaii is conducting additional analyses to identify the exact strain of halobacteria. Until the cause is identified, citizens have been advised not to approach or enter the water. They have also recommended not eating fish from the pond and preventing pets from drinking the water.
② Suffering from Severe Drought After Wildfires
Hawaii has been suffering from a severe drought following a massive wildfire. The pond’s salinity is believed to have increased due to the recent drought on Maui Island, causing it to turn pink.
Kealia Pond is one of the few wetlands on Maui Island where seawater flows. Recently, the salt content has surged due to a severe drought. Approximately 90% of Maui County, including Maui Island, suffers from severe drought. The area where Kealia Pond is located has been classified as the second highest severity level.
The drought in Hawaii worsened after a massive wildfire on Maui Island last August. The streams of the West Maui Mountains, which supply fresh water to the pond, have also decreased due to the drought, causing the salinity to skyrocket.
Last month, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released a ‘Winter Climate Outlook Report’. They projected that Hawaii could continue to experience or worsen droughts due to climate change and El Niño. The area where Kealia Pond is located is next to Kihei, which suffered from wildfires.
This area has suffered from droughts in the past, but the color of the pond did not change at that time. It is still unclear why, only this time, the color has changed. Even the volunteers who have been watching the pond for 70 years say they have never seen it change color.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is investigating to identify the cause in cooperation with the Hawaii Department of Aquatic Resources and the Department of Health. Brett Wolf, who manages the protected area, said, “If it rains, the stream will flow into the pond, and the salinity will decrease, which could resolve the situation.”
③ Currently Attracting Visitors
The media has been reporting the news since Kealia Pond started to turn pink. The Associated Press reported, “The pond has turned the color of bubblegum pink as if it could appear on the set of the movie ‘Barbie.'” Hawaii News Now reported, “The pond looks like something out of a science fiction movie.”
The fact that Kealia Pond turned pink became famous thanks to Travis Morrin, a photographer living on Maui Island. Travis Morrin said, “My friends told me the pond was pink. I couldn’t believe it, but when I happened to pass by, I thought the color of the pond looked like ‘Pepto-Bismol’ (an American digestive medicine).” The photos of Kealia Pond that Travis Morrin shared immediately attracted attention.
As the color of Kealia Pond turned pink, many people flocked there. Currently, visitors are taking pictures of Kealia Pond.
People gathered to see the pond with the unusual color, took pictures, and even attempted to film with drones. However, authorities have banned drone filming, warning that drones could interfere with birds finding food and resting in the protected area.
Currently, photos of Kealia Pond, which has turned pink, are being uploaded on social media. Although the pond itself is not dangerous, it’s certainly not a good sign for its creatures. Many eagerly await the cause of the pond’s color change to be revealed immediately.
Netizens are currently reacting with comments such as “How did Hawaii end up like this?”, “Starting from wildfires, what a mess,” and “This is not the Hawaii I remember.”
By. Kim Min Jae
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