Instagrammers refuse to heed Siberia’s warnings on toxic lake

Siberia’s “Maldives” has caught the attention of influencers on social media platforms like Instagram. Despite efforts to warn people about the toxic lake, the area is still flocked by Instagrammers risking to take selfies.

A lake is nicknamed “Novosibirsk Maldives” because of its tropical flair. The crisp turquoise waters provided a perfect backdrop for photo shoots, selfies, and Instagram posts. However, the reason for its marvelous bright blue color is less than appealing.

The lake is actually an artificial pond used as a waste dump laden with harmful metal oxides from a nearby power plant. Warnings have been announced by the Siberian Generating Company regarding the lake’s dangerous amounts of calcium salts and other metal oxides.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bzv2hBoHA45/

“In the last week, our ash dump has become a celebrity on social networks,” the energy company said last month, as they warned potential visitors not to drink or swim in the water as “skin contact with the water can lead to an allergic reaction”.

Siberian Generating Company wrote on the Russian social network VKontakte last month: “DO NOT swim in the ash dump.”

“The water is highly alkaline. This is because calcium salts and other metal oxides are dissolved in it. Skin contact with such water may cause an allergic reaction!”

“THEREFORE, WE ARE ASKING – DON’T GET INTO THE ASH DUMP IN THE PURSUIT OF A SELFIE!” the company added, in all-caps.

Unfortunately, warnings aren’t enough to keep people from visiting Novosibirsk Maldives. It even seemed to attract more visitors. A fan account on Instagram has even managed to collect around 200 posts from various people taking photos in the site.

Danny Manly
Danny Manly
Danny is a reporter and news columnist for Best in Australia. He covers world news the latest world news headlines and international news including US News and Europe, Middle East News.
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