Take a Quick Look at Lac Rose, the Pink Lake of Senegal

Ever thought about taking a nice canoe ride in a pink lake? Now you can experience this at 
Lake Retba or Lac Rose in Senegal, West Africa. Found less than an hour from Dakar, the capital, Lake Retba is a huge tourist attraction because of its beautiful pink color, especially visible during the dry season (November to June). This tone is created by the high level of salt, up to 40% in some areas, that attracts the Dunaliella salina bacteria that produces red pigments to help absorb sunlight. Few organisms can survive in such highly saline conditions and the fish you can find here are approximately four times smaller than if they were in normal water conditions. If you decide to visit, you’ll see piles of salt collected around the shore of the lake and thousands of collectors working every day.

Like the Dead Sea, the lake is sufficiently buoyant that people can float easily

Photos: Ritaine Claire, Mireia Saenz, Nextdrop.