Can you swim in the Senegal Pink Lake?
The Dunaliella salina bacteria which gives the lake its distinct color is completely harmless to humans and swimming in the lake is possible. Locals who work on extracting salt from the lake use shea butter obtained from the shea nut tree. Lake Retba is not the only pink lake in the world.
Is Senegal Pink Lake real?
Senegal’s Lake Retba – also called Lac Rose, in French, or the Pink Lake – is a famous tourist attraction. Located some 30km (18 miles) north-east of the capital, Dakar, the lake is known for its bright pink colour – especially in the dry season – said to be caused by an alga that produces a red pigment.
Is Lake Retba still pink?
It is named for its pink waters caused by Dunaliella salina algae and is known for its high salt content, up to 40% in some areas….Lake Retba.
| Lac Rose | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 14°50′18.02″N 17°14′41.36″WCoordinates: 14°50′18.02″N 17°14′41.36″W |
| Type | Saline lake |
| Basin countries | Senegal |
| Surface area | 3 km2 (1 sq mi) |
Why is the Pink Lake in Senegal pink?
Lake Retba or “Lac Rosa” in Senegal is one of the rich-algae sources in Africa. Lac Rosa, as it is understood from the name, is rose or pink in color because of the abundant halophilic archaea and “Dunaliella salina” micro-algae concentrations.
Why is Lake Retba red?
The salt content of Lake Retba or Lac Rose, as it’s locally known, rivals that of the Dead Sea – exceeding 40% salinity in some parts – and it is a combination of the sun and a salt-loving micro-algae, dunaliella salina, which has turned the water a brilliant shade of strawberry pink.
Does Lake Retba have fish?
Because there are no fish to catch, Lake Retba is used solely for the purposes of harvesting salt and as a popular tourist attraction.
Do people swim in Lake Retba?
The micro-algae is completely harmless to humans, which makes swimming in Lake Retba entirely possible. The best time to visit Lake Retba is during the dry season, which lasts from November to June, when increased exposure to the sun causes the bacteria to produce a vivid red pigment.
Are there fish in Lake Retba?
What is unique about Lake Retba?
This lake is famous because of its unusual yet vivid naturally occurring pink color. The color of the lake is caused by the Dunaliella salina bacteria, which is attracted by the lake’s salt content. This color is especially visible during the dry season which starts in November and ends in June.
What is unique about Senegal Lake Retba?
On the edge of Senegal’s Cap Vert peninsula, a lush coastal region, lies Lake Retba … a coral pink lake. Nestled between white sand dunes and the Atlantic Ocean, this unique body of water was once the finishing point of the off-road car race, the Dakar Rally.
Will Lake Retba run out of salt?
Before being consumed the salt must be iodized. Pink Lake salt is traditionally used by Senegalese fishermen to preserve fish but its is also sold on to nearby African countries such as Gambia, Guinea, Mali and Benin….Territory.
| State | Senegal |
|---|---|
| Region | Dakar |
What does Lake Retba mean?
Lake Retba, also known as Lac Rose (meaning Pink Lake), lies north of the Cap Vert peninsula of Senegal, some 30 km (18 miles) north-east of the capital, Dakar, in northwest Africa. It is named for its pink waters caused by Dunaliella salina algae and is known for its high salt content, up to 40% in some areas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kz_Sy9ijlCU