Store-SkagastølstindScandinavian Mountains over 2000 metres - James Baxter
Flora & Fauna › Algae, Lichen & Moss › Red Snow Algae
Chlamydomonas nivalis, Red Snow Algae, Rødsnø algae.
This common summer occurence is caused by a blooming algae.
The unicellular organism contains chlorophyll to manufacture fuel, but also contains a red pigment which colours them and the snow.
In the winter these single celled algae sleep under the snow. In spring they swim up towards the suface in the melting drips to reproduce and synthesize fuel again.