Algae isn’t a plant, fungus, or animal. It belongs to a unique group of organisms called protists that often live in water.

One type of algae thrives in the cold and turns snow red or pink. This “watermelon snow” is common in alpine (high mountain) regions around the world. It even has a sweet smell like watermelon.

Other Colors

• Air pollution can cause snow to fall in shades of red, orange, or brown.
• Algae can also color snow yellow and brown.
• In deep piles, sometimes snow appears blue.
• Yellow snow shows where an animal took a bathroom break. But snow can also appear yellow because of decaying plants or leaves.