Retba isn’t some of the fashionable pure points of interest in Africa, however it’s positively some of the extraordinary. Situated on the Cap Vert Peninsula lower than an hour from the capital Dakar, the Pink Lake, as it’s recognized domestically, attracts guests as a result of its uncommon and wealthy colour. It’s separated from the Atlantic Ocean solely by vast sand dunes and predictably has big ranges of salinity. As compared, in the course of the dry season of the 12 months, salt ranges exceed these of the Lifeless Sea.
However the place does the pink colour of Retba come from?
The explanation for that is the cyanobacteria that thrive within the lake as a result of its salinity. The bacterium emits a reddish hue because it attracts and absorbs the solar’s rays. This creates its distinctive colour, which is most noticeable in the course of the dry interval from November to June. The bacterium is totally innocent to people and swimming within the lake is allowed, however pay attention to its attribute warmth, in comparison with heat syrup.
Staff scoop the salt with their naked fingers from the underside of the lake, put it in baskets and carry them to the shore
The pink lake is kind of “shy” and doesn’t reveal itself to everybody. Its colour could be very fickle and is determined by elements comparable to gentle and algae. Few guests have seen its brilliant pink look. Typically the lake seems darker, even brown in colour.
Nearly no residing organisms handle to outlive within the residence of Retba salt, which reaches 40 %
Due to this fact, the lake is principally used as a vacationer attraction and for the manufacturing of salt, in fact. When you go to, you’ll witness the gleaners within the water and their big mountains of salt on the shore. The locals scoop up the salt with their naked fingers from the underside of the lake, put it in baskets and carry them ashore. To guard their pores and skin from the lengthy hours within the water, the employees use shea butter, recognized in Senegal for its beauty properties, which is extracted from the karite tree. And as an attraction for vacationers, crusing on a wood boat is obtainable.
Regardless of the grueling warmth and situations, the native individuals are blissful and relaxed
Retba isn’t the one pink consultant of lakes on Earth, however it’s the largest pure pool of its type. Its space is about 3 sq. km, and the utmost depth is 3 meters. On Australia’s Center Island, there’s one other comparable phenomenon – the mysterious and remoted pink Lake Hillier, the depth of which reaches a outstanding 600 meters.
Picture: Staff take away the salt with their naked fingers from the underside of the lake, put it in baskets and carry them to the shore / iStock by Getty Photos
