It’s certainly pretty to look at, but what’s behind the natural phenomenon that’s nicknamed “watermelon snow”? The species of algae causing the colorful Utah snow is called Chlamydomonas nivalis. That bloom is a sign of the algae’s reproductive stage, during which there’s a secondary pigment that’s created which darkens the algae’s cells, according to Hotaling. This pigment acts as a blocker of ultraviolet rays that protect the algae’s cells from solar radiation. There are no human health concerns for water quality and for anyone who comes into contact with the watermelon snow, according to Hotaling.

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Persons: Scott Hotaling, Hotaling, Brandon Miller, “, they’ve, ” Miller, it’s, ” Organizations: CNN, Utah Locations: Utah, Cache County , Utah, Hotaling, California , Utah, Nevada