Pyramid Lake in Nevada with Algal Bloom

Pyramid Lake is one of the largest natural lakes in the state of Nevada, covering an area of about 188 square miles (487 square kilometers). Located entirely within the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Reservation on the western margin of the Great Basin Desert, this deep terminal lake is widely regarded as a world class fishery. Nearly every year in early October, Pyramid Lake experiences an algal bloom that is typically caused by a blue-green algae known as Nodularia spumigena. This species often causes harmful algal blooms that require local officials to issue advisories and closures. This Landsat 9 image captured the swirling emerald bloom of Pyramid Lake on October 8, 2024.