Mysterious oasis appears in Tunisian desert sparking joy among locals despite warnings it could be contaminated by chemicals
A mysterious blue lake has appeared in the parched Tunisian desert, creating a new swimming hole for hundreds of locals unconcerned about warnings the water could be contaminated or carcinogenic. The swimming hole was discovered by shepherds about three weeks ago when they stumbled across the huge beautiful blue coloured lake. But three weeks on, it is green with algae and subject to public health warnings. Despite the mystery surrounding how 'Gafsa Beach' suddenly appeared in the area, and what effect, if any, the local phosphate mining industry might have on the water quality, the huge pool has provided much needed respite for locals where temperatures are reaching 40C. Scroll down for video +9 The lake appeared in the Gafsa mountains area of Tunisia a few weeks ago but there has yet to be a scientific explanation given for its appearance +9 A local diving into the Gafsa lake, which is one hectare long and thought to be about 18 metres deep at points +9 Children have continued to swim in the water even though it has now turned green and despite warnings the water could be contaminated due to the local mining industry There has been no explanation given for how the lake came to be, but some have suggested seismic activity caused groundwater to rise to the surface. Journalist Lakhdar Souid told France 24: 'News of the lake’s appearance has spread like wildfire and now hundreds of people, eager to escape a heatwave, go there to swim.'The region was 'overflowing' with large deposits of phosphate, which can leave behind radioactive residue, he said. 'There is a real risk that this water is contaminated and carcinogenic. On the first few days, the water was a clear, turquoise blue. Now, it is greenish and filled with algae, sure signs that the water is stagnant, which means it’s a perfect breeding ground for parasites and disease.' Gafsa’s Office of Public Safety has issued a public warning the lake is dangerous and unfit for swimming - but that has not stopped locals from using it as their local swimming pool. Mysterious oasis 'Lac de Gafsa' which has appeared in Tunisia +9 Gafsa's Office of Public Safety has now issued a public warning that the lake is dangerous and unfit for swimming while more tests are conducted on the water quality
The mysterious blue lake has been christened Gafsa Beach by locals, who have continued to swim in it as the region's heatwave produces 40C temperatures +9 The area in which the lake has appeared is stunning and the surrounding rocks are perfect for swimmers to dive from
The Gafsa area, known for its phospate mining industry, is currently in the middle of a heatwave and there are concerns the water is contaminated The Guardian reported Mehdi Bilel spotted the lake after several hours on the road. 'After several long hours on the road without a break, I honestly thought I was hallucinating. I don't know much about science and thought it was magic, something supernatural.' Bathers have now set up a Facebook page to document their activities at the mysterious lake, while local authorities continue to conduct tests to establish whether or not it is safe to swim in.
From jellyfish-infested waters to bright pink pools, the world's strangest lakes revealed (but would you dare to take a dip?)
For many travellers a lakeside holiday might bring to mind soothing, nostalgic images of tiny cottages perched on the side of hills in the Lake District, or impressive Scotish lochs shrouded in mist. But if it's a unique experience you're looking for, why not consider a trip to one of these places instead? The strangest lakes in the world include a boiling cauldron of water in the West Indies, a flamingo-coloured expanse in Western Australia and a lake stuffed to the gills with jellyfish in Thailand. Although there are more than three million lakes worldwide, there are some that just stand out from the crowd, such as the Laguna Colorada, a 23-mile russet red lake in Bolivia; Medicine Lake in Canada, which drains away every winter like an enormous bathtub, not to mention the Dead Sea, which still attracts millions of visitors keen to float in its soothing buoyant waters. Because lakes are mostly landlocked bodies of water which are therefore self-contained ecosystems, they are our planet's experimental mixing pots with the uncanny ability to evolve in different ways and reveal anomalous creatures found nowhere else on Earth. Some lakes are the site of catastrophic historical events like meteor strikes or volcanic eruptions, and others harbour ancient secrets or unique geology. Here we round up some of the oddest watery features to grace the earth. Scroll down for video
+14 Taking a dip with these golden jellyfish in Palau's Jellyfish Lake is an unearthly, but strangely enjoyable experience as these babies don't sting. The glowing orbs of pink and purple, ranging in size from a penny to a football, evolved without the ability to sting, and are the only such known species of jellyfish. These soft as jelly lake dwelling creatures do nothing more than float about basking in the sunlight as visitors to the lake snorkel through them
+14 No it's not a strawberry milkshake: Lake Hillier is a pink-coloured lake on Middle Island, the largest of the islands and islets that make up the Recherche Archipelago in Western Australia. Its striking colour is due to the presence of algae that produces carotenoids. Only a narrow stretch of eucalyptus-tree-covered coastline separates this bubblegum coloured lake from the sapphire blue Southern Ocean
+14 Laguna Colorada, Bolivia: The burgundy colour of this 23-square-mile stretch of water is down to the plankton, red algae, and a range of other microorganisms. This russet-red lake may well have fuelled the imagination of Salvador Dali, who once traveled to this far reach of Bolivia, as it is now called Dali Valley
+14 How many eggs have been thrown in here? The Boiling Lake in Dominica, the West Indies stays in a constant rolling boil so hot that no one has been able to take an accurate measurement... Scientists believe the steam-covered cauldron is a flooded fumarole, or vent that leads directly down to volcanic magma
+14 Lake Manicouagan, Canada: The only known lake that has been cast into the form of a ring was created 200 million years ago when a 3.1-mile-diameter asteroid - the fifth largest ever - crashed into the earth and left behind what appears to be the world's only concentric river. At 1,206 square miles in total, the lake's primary island takes up more surface area than the water
+14 La Brea Pitch Lake, Trinidad: Made up of around 10 million tons of liquid asphalt over 100 acres, La Brea Pitch Lake is the largest natural deposit of pitch on earth - and therefore probably the gooiest place in the world. The Fountain of Youth is the nickname local villagers have for the warm, healing pools of sulphur-infused waters that appear around the lake during rainy season
Medicine Lake, Canada: OK this may not LOOK like a strange lake, but in the winter, you try finding it. A series of sinkholes beneath the water absorb it, sending it though a 10-mile course of underwater caves (one of the largest inaccessible places on earth), after which it appears above ground again in Maligne Canyon. Even though 4,000 gallons seep out every second, the phenomenon takes weeks. The area's indigenous residents used to call it Magic Lake
Dead Sea, Israel/Jordan: Ten times saltier than almost any other sea on earth (35 percent compared to 3.5 percent) this body of water is actually a lake which is said to have healing powers for skin and joints, and at 1,486 feet below sea level, is the lowest place on earth. Travellers come from all corners of the globe to float on its surface
+14 No not the Dead Sea but the salt waters of Lake Tus in Russia's Khakassia region: During the summer, Russians from different regions travel to Lake Tus, famed for the curative properties of its black and blue sediment, to bathe in the salty water and smear themselves with mud
Lake Natron, Rift Valley, Tanzania: Lake Natron literally turns animals into stone. Petrified bats and birds are regularly found washed ashore here, as this forbidding lake which reaches temperatures of up to 140 degrees literally turns into animals into stone. It is thought that the lake's reflective surface tricks birds into diving in, where they soon meet a petrifying end. Beautiful to look at though
+14 Lake McKenzie, Australia: Located on Fraser Island, a 75-mile-long sand bar in the Coral Sea, this 370-acre lake is completely fed by freshwater from the clouds, and is therefore too acidic to sustain aquatic life, plants or animals. Not surprisingly it's a World Heritage Site abounding with natural and undisturbed wildlife, landscape, and crystal clear fresh water lake
+14 Lake Mckenzie, Fraser Island: Yes we know we've already shown you this one but...well, it's nice isn't it. A blue towel swings in the breeze on the shores of the 'perched' lake and the beach around the lake is composed of pure, white silica
+14 Dusty Rose Lake, Canada: Did you ever know there were so many pink lakes? Dusty Rose Lake, in British Columbia is pink due t the particulate in the glacial melt waters feeding it. The surrounding rock is purple/pink in colour, and the water feeding the lake has a lavender hue to it. Pink lakes not only draw visitors from far and wide but also provide livelihoods to local people
+14 Lake Nyos, Cameroon: So far so unassuming, but in 1986, Lake Nyos caused one of the largest unusual natural disasters in recorded history when it literally blew up, sending a torrent of water 300 feet into the air, followed by a small tsunami to the lake's shores. Then a toxic carbon dioxide cloud suffocated 1,746 people in three days... But don't worry it's safe since scientists introduced a system of piping to artificially remove the gas
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