In the mountains Khakassia found red snow – a REGNUM

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Abakan, July 15, 2015, 14:55 – REGNUM The scientific department of the reserve “Khakassia” in mid-June visited Once the planned expedition. According to IA REGNUM in the press service of the reserve in the range Shaman snow field near a mountain lake at an altitude of about 1700 m above sea level, it has been found an unusual natural phenomenon – the red snow.

As explained by experts of the reserve, a coloring effect gives a view of snow algae Chlamydomonas nivalis – chlamydomonas snow. This kind of in the region has not been studied.

The reserve is clarified that it is a unicellular green alga, one of the most common types of cryophilic (cold-loving) algae. In addition to the green pigment chlorophyll cells of algae contain the red pigment astaxanthin. To chlamydomonas snowy successfully developed, need a lot of sunlight and quite cold weather. Such conditions were for a long time in the area of ​​Snowfield Shaman, allowing the algae multiply and stain the snow red. If the temperature on the snow field to rise to + 4 ° C, it goes into a resting stage, or die.

«Algae snow and ice are a very interesting group of organisms, as they are actively developing at about 0 ° C and able to tolerate frosts. Among cryophilic green algae prevail, cyanoprokaryota, diatoms. Developing in large quantities, they can cause green, yellow, blue, red, brown, brown or black “bloom” of snow and ice, “- said in a statement Khakassian reserve.

According to experts, the red snow – a phenomenon observed in the mountains and in the polar regions of the Earth. It is customary in the Caucasus, Northern Urals, is widespread in the area of ​​eternal snow of Kamchatka. Red Snow is also in Siberia (the Aldan ridge) and in the Arctic at the foot of snowy mountains in the south-western part of the New Earth, in many places on Franz Josef Land, in the Kara Sea, and so on. D.

Scientists reserve note that this anomaly is absolutely not dangerous and no matter what no effect, “It’s just an interesting phenomenon of nature, like the aurora borealis, or a rainbow. It is interesting as well, and the fact that these algae colored the snow gets specific taste, reminiscent of watermelon. You can try it, but do not need to abuse, as this can lead to indigestion. ”