Lake Retba or Lac Rose lies north of the Cap Vert
peninsula of Senegal, north east of Dakar. Depending on the time of day,
the lake changes color from a light purple to a deep scarlet pink. The unusual
coloring of the water is caused by harmless halophilic bacteria that thrive in
the lake’s high-salinity environment. The color is particularly visible during
the dry season.
The strawberry color is produced by salt-loving
organism Dunaliella salina. They produce a red pigment that absorbs
and uses the energy of sunlight to create more energy, turning
the water pink," said Michael Danson, an expert in bacteria from Britain's
Bath University.
Of course there is no such thing as a lake made out
of strawberry milkshake ingredients – outside of Willy Wonka’s
world that is. But it’s kind of nice to dream. Lake Retba or
Lac Rose gives us that fantasy, even if it is just on the
surface. Situated north of the Cap Vert Peninsula in Senegal, northeast
of Dakar, Lake Retba, or as the French refer to it Lac Rose, is
pinker than any milkshake you’ve ever come face to straw with. And
once you see it, you too will agree that a sippy straw may be in order over a
boat. Experts say the lake gives off its pink hue due
to cyanobacteria, a harmless halophilic bacteria found in the water
Lake Retba is becoming more and more recognizable as it was
featured in a task on the award-winning reality show Amazing Race. Teams had to
collect salt from the bottom of the lake floor – not an easy task
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