NASA astronaut Kate Rubins captured this image of Lake Van, showcasing milky vortices, or “turbidity plumes,” swirling within the lake's highly alkaline waters. (Credit: NASA/ISS/Kate Rubins) KEY DETAILS
Location: Lake Van, Turkey [38.91395038, 43.12483070]
What's captured? Uncommon plumes primarily composed of inorganic materials spiraling in an alkaline lake.
Photographer: NASA astronaut Kate Rubins aboard the International Space Station.
Capture date: September 12, 2016.
This striking astronaut photograph reveals a series of creamy-white whirlpools formed in the waters of Turkey's Lake Van, Earth's largest “soda lake.” While these vortices resemble common natural patterns, their occurrence is far more unusual.
Lake Van spans approximately 3,100 square kilometers (1,200 square miles), making it Turkey's largest lake—slightly smaller than Rhode Island. Its surface lies 1,640 meters (5,380 feet) above sea level, with water pH levels around 10, indicating strong alkalinity.
The image above highlights Lake Van's Erciş region along its northern shore. The swirling patterns closely resemble algal bloom formations, where plankton species multiply rapidly within wind-driven currents. However, their origin differs fundamentally.
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According to NASA's Earth Observatory, the milky substance in the lake consists mainly of calcium carbonate, along with minor concentrations of detritus—organic debris from living and deceased organisms.
These creamy swirls, termed “turbidity plumes,” are suspended particle clouds formed by natural or human-induced disturbances of the lakebed. Their occurrence is more likely in this region due to shallower depths compared to other areas, where maximum depths reach roughly 450 meters (1,450 feet).
Lake Van holds the title of Earth's largest alkaline or “soda lake,” with a pH near 10.
The lake also hosts one of Earth's highest concentrations of microbialites—free-floating organo-sedimentary structures created through mineral capture and precipitation by microbial communities. Peak microbialite formation occurs during spring and autumn when these communities thrive. However, per the Earth Observatory, this isn't linked to the vortices' formation.
Elevated pH levels result from high carbonate salt concentrations accumulated over time, as the lake is “endorheic” (lacking outflow). Evaporation thus intensifies salt levels.
Salinity here is so extreme that water rarely freezes, despite winter temperatures often dipping below 32°F (0°C).
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Lake Van's water levels have fluctuated dramatically over 600,000 years due to Earth's climatic shifts altering inflow and evaporation rates. A 2014 study revealed depth variations exceeding 600 meters (2,000 feet) during this period.
While large milky swirls aren't algal blooms, small phytoplankton clusters can be seen along Erciş's shoreline and in a minor lake visible at the image's top.
TOPICS Earth from Space
Harry BakerSocial Links NavigationSenior Staff Writer
Harry is a UK-based senior staff writer at Live Science. He studied marine biology at the University of Exeter before transitioning to journalism. His work covers diverse topics including space exploration, planetary science, space weather, climate change, animal behavior, and paleontology. His recent maximum solar coverage earned a 2024 Aerospace Media Award and was shortlisted for the 2023 NCTJ Awards for Excellence. He also authors Live Science's weekly “Earth from Space” series.
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