Pink Lake

Infobox_lake
lake_name = Pink Lake
image_lake = PinkLake.jpg
caption_lake =
image_bathymetry = Pink-Lake-in-Fall.jpg
caption_bathymetry =
location = Gatineau Park, Quebec
coords = coord|45|28|5|N|75|48|25|W|type:waterbody_region:CA-CQ|display=inline,title
type = meromictic
inflow =
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catchment =
basin_countries = Canada
length =
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cities = Pink Lake is a meromictic lake located in Gatineau Park, Quebec, Canada. The surface of the waters are a deep green due to the abundance of algae in the water. The lake is in danger of eutrophication due to human activities. Park management forbids swimming in the lake, walking domestic animals near it, straying from the wooden boardwalk for sight-seers, and throwing stones into the lake.

History

Pink Lake is named after a family of Irish settlers who, in 1826 cleared a farm in the area.

Properties

Due to the meromictic properties of Pink Lake there are ancient forms of bacteria which use sulfur instead of oxygen to perform photosynthesis. These bacteria form a layer about 7 metres from the bottom to avoid the oxygenated water and maximize sunlight exposure.

Pink Lake also has a desalinized variant of the three-spined stickleback fish.

In 2006, research was in progress to identify the patterns of atmospheric conditions over the past 10,000 years by examining the annual deposits of sediment in Pink Lake.

External links

* [http://www.canadascapital.gc.ca/bins/ncc_web_content_page.asp?cid=16297-16299-10170-16394-16383&lang=1 Canada's Capital]
* [http://hoopermuseum.earthsci.carleton.ca/pinklake/index.html Pink Lake, an Important Paleoclimatic Record]
* [http://www.pbase.com/hqhe/gatineau_park Pink Lake in Gatineau Park's photo gallery]
* [http://www.pbase.com/wakenphotography/image/63196072 Pink Lake on Photobase] (first several images)