Situated in the Altai area of Russia, close to Kazakhstan, Lake Burlinskoye is well-known for two things: its odd daily freight train crossing over its waters, and its gorgeous pink summertime hue. The existence of Artemia salina, tiny brine shrimp that flourish in the high salinity of the lake, is responsible for the lake’s pink hue. The lake is the largest salt deposit in Siberia. The vivid pink hue of the lake is a result of the shrimp’s summertime proliferation, rendering it an astonishing natural feature.
However, the lake’s pink beauty isn’t the only remarkable feature. A freight train, often referred to as the “Salt Shaker,” runs across rails laid through the lake during the Soviet era. This train doesn’t simply traverse the lake for aesthetic reasons; it has a crucial function. The train is equipped with special tools that scrape the lake’s bed, harvesting the valuable salt sediment that has accumulated. This process allows the train to collect about 65,000 tons of salt annually, enough to meet the global demand for a few days.
The sight of the train seemingly floating across the pink water is surreal, but its purpose is entirely practical. The lake’s high salt concentration makes it a prime location for salt harvesting, a practice that dates back to the mid-18th century. During the reign of Catherine the Great, salt from Lake Burlinskoye was reserved for Russian royalty. The mechanized salt extraction system introduced by the Soviets turned the lake into a key resource.
Today, the combination of the lake’s striking color and the surreal train passing through its waters creates a spectacle that fascinates travelers and photographers alike.
