The elaborate transformation was short-lived as by July 2020 the lake had reverted to its original form. According to the Indian news website, the striking color change was most likely caused by a large population of salt-loving microscopic organisms called Haloarchaea, or halophilic archaea, that produce a distinct pink pigment. In June 2020, Lonar Lake surprised scientists and locals alike when it turned a rosy pink. Scientists flock to Lonar Lake not only to study the unique basalt-based crater but also the lake itself which is both saline and alkaline. Whilst most of the temples now lay in ruin, one temple dedicated to the local Goddess Kamalaja Devi is still used for active worship, according to the India history website. This cultural importance is echoed by the temples - built around the 12th Century - found around the crater's edge, according to the British Library. According to National Geographic Traveller, Lonar Lake is considered to be the place where Lord Vishnu slayed the demon-giant Lonasura and, as part of they mythology, the crater was the demon's lair and the lake was a result of its spilled blood. ![]() The crater site is also of great cultural significance and features in Hindu mythology. Migratory birds can also be spotted flocking to the lake during the winter months. ![]() The unique ecosystem is a haven for local flora and fauna, the low crater hills are covered with trees and home to several species of wildlife including peafowl, chinkara and gazelles, according to India's news website. Lonar Crater is the only known impact crater to have formed in basalt, according to the British Library. Nowadays it is known that the crater formed between 35,000 and 50,000 years ago as a result of a meteor impact. ![]() As such, the crater was originally thought to be a volcanic crater. The crater is located within a huge plain of basaltic rock left over from volcanic eruptions in the region 65 million years ago. Nestled inside the Deccan Plateau in Southern India, lies Lonar Crater, a large meteorite crater that has baffled scientists since it was identified in 1823 by British officer C.J.E Alexander, according to NASA Earth Observatory. Nowadays, the Barringer Meteor Company aims to preserve the crater and ensure appropriate access by the public via the Meteor Crater and Barringer Space Museum visitor center. The company was founded by Daniel Moreau Baringer, the first to identify the crater's cosmic origin. The crater is privately owned by the Barringer Crater Company - a family-owned enterprise dedicated to the preservation of the crater. He spent the rest of his life attempting to mine the crater, but his efforts were in vain as a majority of the meteorite would have been destroyed on impact according to the American Museum of Natural History. He believed that a huge meteorite lay beneath the crater and that it could be mined for its valuable metal content. However, Barringer's interest in the crater was not solely driven by his urge for scientific understanding. Despite the opposition, Barringer spent several years investigating the crater and providing the first proof of its origin, which was eventually vindicated and accepted by the scientific community. The crater's origins were first identified by mining engineer Daniel Moreau Barringer who was convinced the crater was a result of a meteor striking Earth, a view that was not shared by many scientists at the time. The 300,000-ton meteor was traveling at speeds of up to 26,000 miles per hour (12 km per second), according to the Barringer Crater Company, and exploded with the force of two and a half million tons of TNT, the impact excavated a whopping 175 million tons of rock according to the Lunar and Planetary Institute. ![]() Barringer Crater, also known as Meteor Crater, formed relatively recently (geologically speaking) just 50,000 years ago when a large iron meteor measuring 98-feet (30-meter) to 164-feet (50-meter) in diameter, crashed into the Colorado Plateau in northern Arizona, according to the Lunar and Planetary Institute.
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