La Salina lagoon in Mexico has unexpectedly turned color from green to red.
Scientists believe the color is caused by the red tide, a phenomenon in which estuarine, marine, or fresh water algae accumulate rapidly in water and in turn changes the color of the surface water.
The production of natural toxins and depletion of oxygen could be responsible for wildlife moralities of marine and coastal species of fish, birds, marine mammals, and other organisms around the lagoon.
Although red tides appears to be a natural phenomenon, locals believe that this algae bloom is the result of low precipitation and increased nutrient loading from human activities. Indeed, the ‘La Salina’ lagoon is known for being highly polluted and to make matters worse, the nearby sewage plant does not work properly.