Lake Averno has always been a place wrapped in mystery. It is located in the Campo Flegrei area – near Pozzuoli, Campania – and is a lake of volcanic origin that has inspired myths and legends since ancient times. In fact, the Romans considered him a door to access the Oltretomba, a dark passage that led to the depths of the Hades, a story supported by the presence of a temple dedicated to the god Apollo, that passage that would have led to the underworld described by Virgil who at Lake Averno is nothing more than a cave dug in the tuff, about 200 meters long, which ended at sea and from life to a spectacular underground river.
Today, however, the lake is talking about itself for a much more ground motif: its waters have tinged an intense rose, modifying a landscape that has taken artificial, almost surreal, appearance as a natural.
View this post on Instagram
A spectacular natural phenomenon
No, it is not a magic, not even a spell of the Fairy Morgana, who according to some popular legends would have chosen Lake Averno as its own home. The explanation of this extraordinary chromatic change lies in a well -documented scientific phenomenon: the proliferation of a particular type of microalgae, including Dunaliella Salina, and some species of Halobacteria.
The microorganisms in question are capable of thriving in environments with a high concentration of minerals and poor oxygenation, and the distinctive feature involves the production of red-red-colored pigments to protect itself from sunlight and adverse environmental conditions. The result? The lake is tinged with pink and becomes an impressionist picture.
Why does it happen right now?
In recent years, Lake Averno has shown sporadic episodes of this coloring, but the phenomenon has recently been intensified. There are three main causes:
That of Lake Averno is certainly not an isolated case: of pink lakes They are found all over the world, such as in Australia with Lake Hillier, or in Senegal with Lake Retba (also called Lac Rose), where similar environmental conditions lead to the same incredible chromatic effect.
Between myth and science
A natural scope natural show adds a further piece to the already rich history of Lake Averno. The name would derive from the Greek “Áornos”, which means “without birds”, a reference to the sulphurous fumes which, according to some legends, once made the air unbreathable for animals. The ancients feared him, as Virgil already observed he described it in the anneid as entry to the underworld, and today the scientists study it with curiosity.
In addition to the geological and historical charm, the lake hosts a varied fauna: flies, real Germans, flashes and even fresh water turtles, many of which have been released by unwary owners. The waters of the lake, although not indicated for bathing, are inhabited by fish such as the alborelle, the Persics and the Bavose of fresh water.
A warning for the future
The pink coloring of Lake Averno is fascinating, but not without implications, because it is a symptom of the changes that occurred in the environmental balance of the lake, due in part to global warming. The increase in temperatures and the reduction of oxygen could further alter the local ecosystem, with unpredictable effects on the flora and fauna.
