Should Visit, The Magical Lake -- Lake Retba -- West Africa

 

Lake Retba - Senegal - West Africa

Lake Retba or Lac Rose also known as Pink Lake lies north of the Cap Vert Peninsula of Senegal, about 30 km (18 miles) north-east of the capital, Dakar, in northwest Africa. It is famous for its pink colored waters caused by a type of algae called Dunaliella Salina . The lake contains high salt content up to 40%.

Algae Dunaliella Salina

A narrow corridor of dunes separates lake from the Atlantic Ocean. The algae Dunaliella Salina produces a Strawberry Milk Shake like color to assist in absorbing light, which provides energy to create ATP [Adenosine triphosphate]. This peculiar red color is visible during the dry season (from November to June) and is less visible during the rainy season (July to October). Magenta colored Samphire bushes, European plant flourish in the white sand banks, and these sand dunes are terracotta-colored.

Sea water ingress

The lake contains high salt content, up to 40%, which is mainly due to approach of seawater and its subsequent evaporation. Like the Dead Sea the lake is sufficiently buoyant and people can float easily.

Salt Collection

Salt is exported across the region. This salt is used by Senegalese fishermen to preserve fish, a component of many traditional recipes including the national dish, a fish and rice meal called Thieboudienne.

Dwarfism

Fishes in this lake have adapted to live in this salty environment by evolving ways to pump out extra salt and keep their water level balanced.  Here the fishes are four times smaller than those living in a normal environment; as a result, this salt water fish is called as dwarfism.

Lake Retba is under consideration by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

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