Hightlight
- Natural Wonder
Lake Retba, known to the world as the ‘Pink Lake,’ is a surreal natural wonder where the water can take on a vivid strawberry hue under the midday sun. This striking color is caused by salt-loving algae, and the lake is so rich in salt that you can float effortlessly on its surface, much like the Dead Sea. Along the banks, you can watch local salt harvesters covered in shea butter to protect their skin as they haul white piles of salt from the shallow water. The pink water is framed by shimmering white salt mounds and golden sand dunes, creating a photographer’s paradise of contrasting colors. It is a unique and mesmerizing landscape that feels like a dream, especially when the pink hue is at its most intense.
- Where it is: Located about 30 km northeast of Dakar.
- What you can expect to see: Pink-tinted water, salt harvesters at work, and shimmering white sand dunes.
- How much it is to get in: Free to view; boat rides cost ~$5 – $10 USD.
- What people say: Photographers call it a ‘paradise’ for the contrast between pink water and blue sky.
- Interesting fact: The pink color is caused by Dunaliella salina algae producing red pigment to absorb sunlight.
