Download - Senegal's pink lake
This pink colored lake located in Senegal, Africa its called Lake Retba or Lac Rose. It is so named for its pink waters, caused by
cyanobacteria in the water. A type of single-celled halophile (salt-loving)
microorganism which is red or purple in colour. The water of lake actually changes
from mauve to deep pink in colour, depending on the time of day and amount of sunlight. The color is particularly visible
during the dry season.
The lake is also known for its high salt content, which, like that of the Dead Sea, allows people to
float easily. The lake also has a small salt collecting industry and is often the finishing point
of the Dakar Rally.
For most of the year salt fishing is the major activity of the lake. Women in Senegal spend up to 14
hours a day on the banks of this lake to harvest salt. Each liter of water has about 380 grams of
salt. Seen from above, with piles of white salt lining the shore, the lake appears as a pool of colour in a
black and white landscape.