You’ve probably heard about the pink lakes around the world and places like Indonesia, and the Bahamas. But did you also know there’s other kinds of lakes that match the same uniqueness? There are lakes around the world that mysteriously look different every time — and there’s lots of interesting science behind it. Here are surreal, lakes around the world that mysteriously change color.

1. Mount Kelimutu Crater Lakes (Flores Island, Indonesia)

As stunning as it looks, there’s lots of interesting facts about this specific lake. This week over the years changed to many different colors. The lake was neon turquoise, olive green, chocolate brown, deep burgundy, milky white, and jet black. You’re probably wondering how it changes color — dissolved minerals like iron and manganese react with volcanic gas fumes (sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide), creating complex oxidation-reduction reactions that alter the water’s color without warning. If you want to go to visit, aim for 4:30 AM to catch the sunrise over the crater rim as morning mist clears over the waters.

2. Laguna Colorada (Potosí, Bolivia)

This is a salt lake that shifts from deep blue and rust-orange in the morning to a blazing blood-red by late afternoon. The lake itself is located in the Altiplano region of southwestern Bolivia within the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve. The reason it changes color is a bit different — it’s due to heavy winds and strong midday sunlight that trigger the algae to produce protective pigments, intensifying the deep red color.

3. Lake Laguna Verde & Lake Quilotoa (Quilotoa Crater, Ecuador)

This lake is right in the mountains so you don’t just get the lake, but you also get the mountain views with it. The lake is known to change colours constantly between deep emerald green, bright turquoise, yellow, and deep teal. It changes in color because cloud cover, sun angle, and wind ripples create instant optical changes across the surface. This lake is also ideal to visit if you are somebody who likes hiking —Visitors can hike the 12-kilometer rim trail or trek and even book kayaks.

4. Emerald Lakes & Lake Rotokauri (Tongariro National Park, New Zealand)

First glance this lake looks like it’s something out of Egypt, but it’s actually in the beautiful country of New Zealand. Instead of just one lake, these are three lakes. The three lakes vary in color from pale mint green and a bright turquoise to deep apple green. The change of the color depends on rainfall and volcanic output.

5. Lake Okama (Mount Zao, Miyagi/Yamagata, Japan)

This lake has a nickname and is referred to as the “Goshiki-numa” or Five Color Pond. Okama shifts through shades of jade green, turquoise, dark navy blue, and bright emerald. The exact color change depends entirely on the weather, season and where the sun is angled for the day. Lake Okama also has highly acidic waters. With a pH level around 3.5 — it prevents organic life, while active thermal vents at the lake bottom release sulfur and calcium compounds. There’s preferred times to visit for the best experience — May to October via the Zao Highline road.