Colors of summer: Yanhu lake transforms into muti-colored pools

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By CGTN's Hu Chao

Seen from above, bright colored circles dotted north China's Shanxi Province as Yanhu salt lake transformed into colorful pools, thanks to the scorching hot weather.

With temperatures hitting 37 degrees in north China recently, many cities have been issuing high temperature warnings as the mercury continues to rise.

Rising temperature made the Yanhu salt lake look more colorful than usual. /CGTN Photo

The Yanhu Lake covers 132 square kilometers and is 30 kilometers in length. Scientists say it was formed about 50 million years ago. As one of the top three inland salt lakes in the world, the Yanhu Lake is rich in edible and industrial salts, such as sodium sulfate and magnesium sulfate.

More algae and brine shrimps in the lake result in a multicolor image. /CGTN Photo

Experts say the rising temperatures have resulted in unusually fast growth of the algae and brine shrimps in the lake. Different types of algae at different densities reflect different lights, producing a beautiful multi-color image, which gives viewers a spectacular aerial view.

The Yanhu salt lake has been a popular tourist destination. /CGTN Photo

People call the Yanhu Lake China's Dead Sea. Due to its high water density, swimmers can float naturally in the lake, making it a safe destination for many tourists.

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