'Magnesium flower' blooms in China's oldest salt lake

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As temperature drops in northern China, nature's chemistry works its magic again in the “Chinese Dead Sea” – Yuncheng salt lake in Shanxi Province. Large packs of white crystals emerge on the salt lake, creating an amazing scene in this area where very few lives can survive.

The "magnesium flower" appeared earlier than usual this year. /VCG Photo

The “magnesium flower” blooms under the sun in Yuncheng's salt lake. /VCG Photo

The earliest record of humans obtaining salt from the Yuncheng salt lake dates back to about 4,000 years ago, making it one of the oldest salt lakes in China. During the summer, when the water level lowers, large groups of red algae flourish in the lake, turning it into a bright and vibrant pink color. Numerous poems and essays written by ancient writers praised this miraculous creation of nature.

This amazing phenomenon only occurs when the temperature drops below 5 degrees Celsius. /VCG Photo

The crystallized magnesium sulfate often clings onto plants and accumulates. /VCG Photo

The clear magnesium sulfate on the salt lake. /VCG Photo

An aerial view of Yuncheng's salt lake covered with a large amount of magnesium sulfate. /VCG Photo

The salinity level and temperature in different ponds of the salt lake create a multicolor palette.

The colorful ponds of the salt lake in Yuncheng. /VCG Photo

In the winter, when the temperature drops to around five degrees Celsius, the “magnesium flower” appears. It is, in fact, the magnesium sulfate which crystallized in low temperature. The magnesium sulfate often clings onto weeds or branches that float on the lake and accumulates towards a certain direction.

In winter, 2017, the rarely-seen pink "magnesium flower" appeared in the salt lake. /VCG Photo

The increasing number of red algae in the water gives the salt lake a pink color. /VCG Photo

The Yuncheng salt lake has gradually become a popular scenic spot for tourists around the world. And because of the sufficient measures taken by the local government, the ecological environment around the lake has significantly improved in recent years. This leads to an increasing number of migratory birds making their stop around the lake during winter.