Lake Retba, also known as the pink lake, located 35 km from the capital of Senegal Dakar, after almost three years again acquired its characteristic pink coloring, which was lost due to abnormal rains.
Lake, which is among the most salty ponds of the world, owes its unique color microscopic algae Dunaliella Salina.
These halophilic (salt -resistant) organisms produce a red pigment, protecting themselves from high salt concentrations, which gives the water pink shades.
However, as a result of the strongest rains of 2022 and the subsequent floods in the region, the water level in the lake increased sharply – from 3 to 6 meters. The authorities decided to send excess flood water to the pink lake, which led to a decrease in salinity.
As a result, the algae stopped producing the pigment, and the lake became green. This negatively affected not only its appearance, but also on tourism and salt production – the most important sectors of the local economy.
Water is gone – the color is returned
In order to restore the usual appearance of the lake and resume economic activity, the authorities organized the drainage of water to a neighboring artificial reservoir.
After a decrease in the water level, salinity reached the necessary indicators, the algae intensified, and the lake returned to its pink color.
Retba is considered not only a natural attraction, but also an important industrial object.
About 60 thousand tons of salt are mined annually. Up to 3 thousand people are employed in the prey, including seasonal workers from Niger, Mali and Burkina-Faso. The main period of production falls on the arid months – from November to June.
The lake also claims to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and in the past was the finish point of the legendary rally Paris-Dakar.
The return of the pink lake to its natural appearance causes hope for the restoration of tourist flows and strengthening the local economy based on a unique symbiosis of nature and traditional crafts.