Whether the pink sea. Pink Lake - Senegal ruby

Pink Lake of Senegal (also known as Lake Retba) is not a very famous landmark in Africa, but is still quite extraordinary.

The local population of the Wolof ethnic group prefers to call it Retba Lakes. But we know it as Pink Lake. Again, as in the case of the Blue Grotto, the lake owes its name to its unnatural color for a reservoir.

And here there is something to be surprised at: the color of the water varies from pink to blood red. This phenomenon is associated with the presence in water of a huge number of halophilic archaea of ​​the genus Halobacterium. Translated into understandable language, there are a lot of specific bacteria in the water, which paint the lake in such incredible colors. Particularly bright colors are characteristic of the lake during the dry season.

Pink Lake on the map

• geographic coordinates 14.838150, -17.234862
• distance from the capital of Senegal, Dakar, about 25 km
• the distance to the nearest airport of the same Dakar is approximately 30 km

The history of the Pink Lake is quite earthly and sacrifices with copious amounts of blood were not carried out here. Initially, it was an ordinary lagoon, connected to the ocean by a small channel. But, over time, the ocean surf covered the channel with sand and thereby blocked the communication of the lagoon with the “big water”.

And that is not all. The lake would have remained ordinary and inconspicuous if one day, during a severe drought, they had not become very shallow. Then the local residents began to extract salt from it, and in the most in a simple way, almost like on the territory of the Uyuni salt marsh, collecting it from the bottom of the lake. Over time, bacteria began to develop, turning Lake Retba into abnormal colors. As a result, we have another attraction.

Lake Retba in numbers

• Surface area about 3 km2
• Maximum depth up to 3 meters

It is noteworthy that local residents who extract salt spend 6-7 hours in the water. This is an insanely high amount for such a saturated brine solution. But a special karite product made from shea butter helps workers protect their skin from burns. By rubbing it into the skin, people are able to stay in water for a long time.

The workers live right next to the lake in unpresentable shacks. There is not much entertainment here. Perhaps boat rides, short swimming and jeep rides in the local surroundings. You can buy souvenirs that are sold by local residents, usually carrying them in baskets on their heads.

• Lake for a long time was the final destination of the famous Paris-Dakar rally
• The salt content in the waters of Pink Lake reaches 40%
• You cannot stay in water for more than 10 minutes, as this can cause chemical burns.
• There are no living creatures (no fish, no algae), except for the above-mentioned bacteria, in the lake (try to survive in a reservoir where there is almost 400 grams of salt per liter of water)
• The salt content in Lake Retba exceeds that of the famous Dead Sea in Israel
• It is almost impossible to drown in the lake, since the density of its water is very high and, accordingly, the buoyant force prevents you from sinking to the bottom
• salt has been mined here since the 70s of the last century

There are many attractions in Crimea. The most famous of them are: the Grand Canyon, Mount Ai-Petri and bird home. However, there are others on this peninsula that are very interesting, but, unfortunately, few Famous places. The category of such attractions includes Pink Lake. In Crimea it is the saltiest.

Where is it located?

This interesting tourist attraction is located on the territory of Cape Opuk, approximately 30 km from Kerch. Once upon a time there was a military training ground in this place. But not so long ago Opuksky was created here nature reserve. The area of ​​this reserve is not too large. But at the same time, a huge number of different kinds of rare birds live on its territory. Opuk was removed from the command of the military training ground in 1998. At the moment, it includes not only this cape itself, but also part of the coastal territory, as well as outcrops standing in the sea, called “Ship Rocks” for their unusual shape.

The Pink Lake itself in Crimea is located on Opuk in close proximity to the Black Sea. This body of water is separated from it only by a not too wide sandy embankment.

A little history

Story ( bcnjhbz) near the Pink Lake in Crimea is quite interesting. It belongs to the group of volcanic ones. That is, it was formed a very, very long time ago. In fact, even today its bottom is a dormant volcano. Not so long ago, Pink Lake was part of the Black Sea. However, later the surf brought a lot of sand here. Because of this, an embankment-lintel was formed.

Short description

So, we found out where Pink Lake is located in Crimea. It is located near Kerch. Its official name is Koyashskoe. This unusual body of water is quite large in size. total area it is about 5 hectares. The lake reaches 4 km in length and 2 km in width. You will not be able to swim in this reservoir. Its depth in spring reaches only 1 meter. By autumn, the lake dries up completely. This reservoir is actually very salty. Therefore, practically no living creatures are found in it. The salt concentration in it reaches 350 grams per liter. This is definitely a lot. Koyashskoye is the saltiest body of water on the Crimean peninsula.

The mud in this lake is healing. They are mined and supplied for the treatment of vacationers to local sanatoriums. You won't be able to swim in this lake. However, you can smear yourself with mud on the shore. There is enough water to wash them off.

Why pink?

The main feature of this reservoir that attracts tourists to it is, of course, not its shallow depth or high salt content. Of course, it was not for nothing that the lake was called pink. The water in it really has this color. This body of water looks especially beautiful at sunset. In fact, the name Koyashskoye itself translates as “the lake in which the sun hides.”

In spring, the water in this reservoir has an ugly brown-brown dirty color. However, already in June, with an increase in air temperature, its shade begins to change quickly. This is primarily due to the vital activity of algae breeding in the lake Dunaliella Salina.The beta-carotene it produces gives the water a delicate, juicy pink hue.

When is the best time to go?

In spring, the water in Lake Koyashsky is not very beautiful. But you can admire the surroundings of this reservoir in April-May. At this time, a huge number of tulips bloom along the shores of the lake. They almost cover the local hills with a carpet.

In order toappreciate beautyhimselfPink lake in Crimea, it’s worth coming here in mid-late summer. It is during this period that algae develop most actively, and the water acquires a truly beautiful shade.

Closer to autumn, the lake, as already mentioned, dries up. But even at this time it looks quite impressive. The fact is that the beta-carotene contained in its water turns salt pink.

Later, in the fall, due to rains, the lake begins to fill with water again. At this time of year, the layer in its bowl is not too large - about 2 cm. But because of it, the lake looks like a huge clear mirror. Tourists walking along the pond at this time of year feel like they are floating in the air due to the reflecting clouds.

How to get to Pink Lake in Crimea?

Get to this unusual natural siteon the peninsula you can follow the Feodosia-Kerch highway. At the sign "Marfovo-Marevka",not reaching about 20 km to the city,you need to turn towards the Black Sea. The road ahead will not be very good. You should be prepared for this. Having reached the village of Maryevka, you need to turn straight towards the coast onto a country road. It may not be possible to drive through it in a regular car, as it is heavily rutted. Some part of the journey will most likely have to be covered on foot. But get to the cape by jeepThe dough will turn out without any problems.

Opuk Nature Reserve

Where is the Pink Lake in Crimea located specifically -It's clear. But it’s still not worth going on an excursion to see him spontaneously.Illegal entry into the reserve territoryat Cape Opukprohibited. In order to get into the reserve, you needat firstobtain a pass by first submitting an application to its administration. Hereshouldindicate the purpose of the visit, the number of people wishing to see the cape and their age.You don't need to travel anywhere to apply. Do itYou can, for example, via the Internet. The reserve has its own VKontakte group.

Other Pink Lakes of Crimea

Koyashskoye actually looks very beautiful. However, in Crimea there are other salt lakes of the same pleasant color. In this case, the effect is caused by the same algae. Lakes such as Krasnoi and Staroye, for example, have a pink tint on the peninsula.

Both bodies of water are located on the territoryKrasnoperekopsk City Councilin the west of the peninsula. These lakes also look very impressive.

A pink lake is a lake that has a reddish or pink color due to the presence of algae that produce carotenoids (organic pigments). These include algae such as Dunaliella salina, which is a type of halophile green microalgae that lives in particularly salty conditions. sea ​​water. Thanks to their pink color, these lakes are becoming increasingly popular among tourists and photographers from all over the world. We invite you on a short journey through the pink lakes of our planet:

1. Lake Hillier, Australia

Lake Hillier is a lake located on Middle Island - the large island of all the islands and islets that make up the Recherche Archipelago in Western Australia. The lake is very popular and tourists strive to get there, even passengers on planes flying over the lake take photographs of this miracle of nature.


The peculiarity of the lake is its bright pink color. The color of the water is constant and does not change if water is poured into a container. The length of the lake is about 600 meters. It is separated from the ocean by a narrow strip of land consisting of sand dunes covered with vegetation.


The lake is surrounded by white salt deposits and dense forests of tea and eucalyptus trees. To the north, sand dunes separate the lake from the Southern Ocean. Middle Island and the lake were discovered in 1812.

2. Lake Retba, Senegal


Lake Retba or Pink Lake is located east of the Cape Verde Peninsula (Cap Vert) in Senegal, northeast of Dakar, the capital of Senegal. It got its name because of the color of the water in which the algae species Dunaliella salina grows.


The color is especially noticeable during the dry season. The lake is also known for its high salt content, which, like the Dead Sea, allows people to float easily.


Aerial photography of salt accumulations along the shoreline of Lake Retba

There is a small salt mining business on the lake. Many salt workers work 6-7 hours a day in the lake, which contains about 40% salt.


To protect their skin, they rub in Beurre de Karité (Shea Butter, derived from shea nuts harvested from the shea tree), which softens the skin and prevents tissue damage.

3. Salt Lake Torrevieja, Spain


Aerial view of the Torrevieja Salt Lake from the Mediterranean Sea

Torrevieja Salt Lake and La Mata Salt Lake are salt lakes surrounding Torrevieja, a seaside town in southeastern Spain. The microclimate created by the largest salt lakes in Europe - Torrevieja and La Mata - is declared one of the healthiest in Europe, according to the World Health Organization.


The pink color of Lake Torrevieja, caused by the presence of algae and salt, gives it a "science fiction" appearance. Just like in the Dead Sea in Israel, here you can also just lie on the surface of the water. In addition, this will be of great benefit for the prevention and treatment of skin and lung diseases.


At the other end of the lake, salt is mined and exported to different countries. You can see a huge number of bird species near the lake.

4. Hutt Lagoon, Australia


Hutt Lagoon is shown on the left side, and Indian Ocean- on the right

Hutt Lagoon is an elongated salt lake located off the coast north of the Hutt River Estuary in the mid-west of Western Australia. It is located in the dunes adjacent to the coast.


The city of Gregory is located between the ocean and the southern shores of the lake. The road between Northampton and Kalbarri, called George Gray Drive, runs along the western edge of the lake.


The lake is 14 kilometers long and 2 kilometers wide.

Hutt Lagoon is a salty pink lake, having a red or pink hue due to the presence of Dunaliella saline in the water. This type of algae produces carotenoids, which are a source of beta carotene, a food coloring and a source of vitamin A.


This lagoon is home to the world's largest microalgae farm. The total area of ​​small artificial ponds in which Dunaliella salina is bred is 250 hectares.

5. Dusty Rose Lake, Canada


This pink lake located in British Columbia, Canada is quite unusual, little known and possibly unique. The water in this lake is not at all salty and does not contain algae, but it is still pink in color. The photo shows pink water flowing into the lake. The color of the water is due to the unique combination of rocks in this area (rock dust from the glacier).

6. Pink Lake, Australia


Pink Lake is a salt lake in the Goldfields-Esperance region of western Australia. It is located approximately 3 kilometers west of Esperance and is connected to the east by motorway south coast(South Coast Highway).


The lake is not always pink, but the distinctive color of the water, when the lake takes on a pink tint, is the result of the activity of the green algae Dunaliella salina, as well as a high concentration of saltwater shrimp. The lake has been designated as Important Bird Habitat by the international organization for the protection of birds and their habitat conservation.

7. Lake Masazir, Azerbaijan


Lake Masazir is salt Lake in the Karadag region, near Baku, Azerbaijan. The total area of ​​the lake is 10 square kilometers. The ionic composition of water contains large volumes of chloride and sulfate.


Workers load salt into horse-drawn carts

In 2010, a plant was opened here to produce two MFAs of Azeri salt. The estimated reserve of salt that can be extracted is 1,735 million tons. It can be extracted both in a liquid state (from water) and in a solid state.

8. Pink Lake Quairading, Australia


Pink Lake Quirading is located 11 kilometers east of Quirading (Western Australia). The Bruce Rock Highway passes through it.


The local population considers Pink Lake natural miracle. At certain times, one side of the lake turns dark pink while the other remains pale pink.

Bonus: Field of Pink Lakes, Australia


This unusual landscape was captured from an airplane in western Australia. This field of pink lakes is located somewhere between Esperance and Caiguna.


There are hundreds of small pink lakes throughout the course, each with its own unique shade of pink. This is due to the fact that the concentration of algae and salt in each lake is different from all the others.

Be sure to check out the Pink Lake, also known as Retba. The color of the water in it resembles either potassium permanganate or a strawberry cocktail. This incredible natural formation features natural water.

It is not surprising that the lake is considered one of the main ones. What is its secret?

The mystery of rose water

The water of Lake Retba is very salty. For most microorganisms, the salt level is lethal, and only one species can survive in it. It is these creatures that give the water its beautiful color. The intensity of the shade can vary from delicate pinkish to dark brown, everything is determined by the angle of incidence of the sun's rays and weather conditions. For example, during the dry season, the Pink Lake in Senegal becomes incredibly bright, especially attracting a large number of tourists. The magical shade of the water, combined with the many boats gliding along the surface of the lake, creates a completely surreal picture.

Where is it located?

You can look at Pink Lake off the Atlantic coast. It is located near Dakar, the capital of the country.

Just thirty kilometers from the city, and you are there. It’s also not far from the westernmost point of the peninsula - twenty kilometers to the peninsula Cape Verde. The area of ​​the amazing reservoir is small (three square kilometers), and its deepest place is three meters. There is a village on the shore, whose workers and traders are fed by the Pink Lake. Photos of this place often illustrate the work of local residents. They stand up to their necks in water and manually scoop salt from the bottom. This is very hard work, but it pays well. Therefore, flat boats cover the entire coastline every day.

Retba's story

There was once a lagoon here, connected to the Atlantic Ocean. The surf brought sand from year to year, and the channel was gradually filled with it. In the 70s, a drought hit these places, after which the Retba became shallow, making salt production quite accessible.

The water is gradually returning, and workers are standing in it up to their shoulders, but just twenty years ago the level here was at most waist-deep. The depth of the lake is also increasing because people are extracting about twenty-five thousand tons of salt, gradually scooping up the bottom. Apart from microorganisms called dunaliella, which give the water a special hue with its pigment, no other organisms, fish or plants live here. The Pink Lake is even more deadly for all living things than the famous Dead Sea - there is one and a half times more salt here. It is impossible to drown here: dense water holds objects on the surface. Even boats heavily laden with loot do not sink. A boat can be filled in three hours of hard work, and each worker must repeat this operation three times a day. To prevent salt of such concentration from corroding the skin, workers rub themselves with special oil from the fruits of the tallow tree. Otherwise, painful ulcers will appear on the skin within half an hour. So it’s better to watch the lake from the outside.

The ancient lands of the Black Continent contain many natural wonders, one of which is a fantastic lake located not far from Cape Verde. This is Retba - the most interesting attraction of Senegal and one of the most colorful places on the planet.

Colorful in the truest sense of the word! The waters of the Pink Lake, as Retba is translated from the dialect of the Wolof ethnic group, shimmer under the sultry African sun with a whole palette of pink colors - from soft crimson to carmine scarlet. The bird's eye view of the reservoir is especially bizarre - a strawberry spot framed by the emerald greenery of the jungle - a truly bewitching landscape!

Pink Lake is a bright spot on the map of Africa

This amazing body of water is located in the Western part of the African continent, just thirty kilometers from the main city of Senegal - Dakar. A narrow strip of sand dunes separates Pink Lake from the mighty waters of the Atlantic. Two-kilometer coastline Retby is a truly picturesque canvas: a string of small boats on the purple surface of the water, the finest golden sand and snow-white hills of salt pyramids. The French-speaking population of the country gave the lake another name - Lac Rose.

History of the magical lake

It may come as a surprise, but the Retba was not always a lake. The reservoir was once part of the Atlantic Ocean, a cozy lagoon separated from Big water narrow channel. The ocean surf and wind washed up the sand for centuries until the channel completely disappeared, forming a salt lake with an area of ​​no more than three square kilometers.

Why is it this color? Until the 70s of the last century, Retba did not stand out in any way among ordinary salt lakes. But the worst drought in the history of Senegal caused the lake to become significantly shallower, opening access to the deepest salt deposits at the bottom of the reservoir. In those years, an extraordinary rainbow phenomenon appeared.

The mystery of rose water

How can we explain the unusual shade of Lac Rose? Everything is very simple, there is nothing mystical or supernatural here.

The amazing purple color of the water is due to myriads of microscopic organisms - cyanobacteria of the genus Dunaliellasalina, which chose Retba as their habitat.

It is the pigmentation of these ancient living creatures that tints the lake with the delightful color of flamingos and dawn. The coral hue of the water is also influenced by the abundance of fossil deposits of minerals and chlorine on the shore. The color of the lake is very heterogeneous and can change depending on various factors: the angle of incidence of sunlight on the lake surface, cloudiness and dry weather. The brightest and most intense pink color is characteristic of the dry season in Senegal - from May to November.

One of the saltiest bodies of water in the world

Dunaliellasalina is the only form of organic life that can exist in the concentrated salt solution of Lake Retba. The salt content in Lac Rose is more than 380 grams per liter, which is one and a half times higher than the specifications Dead Sea. The increased density of water makes swimming easier and prevents drowning, however, staying in pink waters for more than ten minutes is fraught with severe burns and non-healing ulcers on the surface of the skin.

Labor-intensive salt extraction

The richest salt deposits are the main source of income local population. On the coast of Pink Lake lies a small village of the Wolof people, whose inhabitants are all engaged in salt mining. This is very difficult work - male miners manually, standing shoulder-deep in water, scoop salt crystals from the lake bottom. In order to protect yourself from the corrosive solution, the skin is treated with shea butter. At the bottom of the lake, workers first blindly loosen the salt, and then fill large baskets with the powder and send them on boats to the shore.

Due to the high density of water, small flat-bottomed boats can hold up to half a ton of cargo, which significantly saves time on transportation. On the shore, women and girls are involved in the work process - the collected salt is dragged to the shore, washed to remove dirt and silt and left to dry. Subsequently, the salt from the bottom of Lac Ross goes to resellers and is used mainly for preserving seafood, and in some restaurants in Europe it is served as an exotic product.

Not only local residents are employed in salt mining; men from neighboring countries of the continent come here to work. A modest payment of $9 for a day of hard labor is considered quite acceptable in Africa. These “guest workers” build their temporary homes from scrap materials right on the banks of the Retba. Every year, up to 25 thousand tons of salt are removed from the bottom of the pink lake, which leads to a rapid deepening of the reservoir - previously the water in Lac Rose reached only the waist, and it was possible to move along it on foot.

Interesting information for travelers

Every year by rose waters Retba attracts thousands of tourists who want to see and capture with their own eyes the extraordinary miracle of nature. For those who are just about to discover Senegal and its remarkable places, some nuances of traveling in the vicinity of the lake will be useful:

• Pink Lake is located just an hour's drive from Dakar. It is best to go to explore the beauties of Retba as part of an organized excursion route. But you can get to the place yourself by minibus, or by renting a car. For those who want to admire the fabulous landscape at dawn or sunset, there is a network of small hotels nearby.
• Entertainment includes romantic boat rides on the pink surface of the lake, car rides along the picturesque coastline. For a small fee, tourists can get acquainted with all the intricacies of salt extraction and try their hand at this difficult task. Locals They are happy to take anyone interested in fishing.
• During the day, the lake repeatedly changes its hue - from elusive pink and rich purple to brownish cherry with orange notes in color, so it is best to admire the magical landscape several times during the day.
• Not long ago, the final stage of the famous Paris-Dakar race took place along the coast of Lac Rose.
• Not far from the pink lake there is an interesting turtle sanctuary.

Lake Retba – fantastic natural object, which is a must-visit when traveling through the expanses of hot Africa. The mesmerizing beauty of the pink surface in the light of day and in the first rays of the awakening sun will not leave connoisseurs of beauty indifferent. Tell us about your impressions of this delightful corner.