▲ The Reflecting Pool at the National Mall covered in algae
The newly renovated "reflecting pool" in Washington, D.C., prepared for the 250th anniversary of the United States, has turned green instead of the intended blue, according to reports from The New York Times (NYT) and The Washington Post (WP).
The Reflecting Pool is a large water feature located between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial in the heart of the capital.
It is well-known as the site where civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech in 1963.
President Donald Trump, claiming the landmark had been neglected by previous administrations, ordered the pool to be drained and its concrete floor coated with blue waterproof paint.
The project cost $14.2 million, the NYT reported on June 15 (local time).
President Trump had promoted the project daily on his social media platform, Truth Social, stating that the pool would reflect the "American flag blue" in honor of the nation's Independence Day on July 7.
However, as summer temperatures climbed above 30°C (86°F) accompanied by high humidity, the situation took a turn for the worse.
Algae began to cover the surface, turning the pool a murky green.
The National Park Service (NPS) mobilized staff over the weekend to remove the algae, but tourists visiting the site described it as looking like a "swamp" and noted that, contrary to its name, it is "not reflecting."
Katie Martin, a spokesperson for the Department of the Interior, told the WP, "We are removing the algae, and nanobubble technology will maintain the pool and prevent algae from forming."
The WP reported that algae has been a persistent issue for the Reflecting Pool.
Even after a $34 million renovation in 2012, the algae reportedly flourished again due to intense sunlight.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.