Pink Lake In Senegal - Lake Retba
Lake Retba or Lac Rose lies north east of Senegal's capital Dakar. The water in Senegal's Lake Retba always seems to have a pinkish hue to it. The lake's unusual appearance is caused by a salt-loving green micro alga called Dunaliella Salina that resides in the lake, known for its high concentration of the mineral. The color is particularly visible during the dry summer months when the saline levels are high and you will see it turn strawberry pink and sometimes, even red.
As you can imagine, very few organisms can survive in such highly saline conditions. The only reason this single-celled organism is able to do so, is because of its ability to create large amounts of Beta-Carotene, that helps protect it against the intense light that reflects off the salt and also gives the algae its dark pink hue. The algae are so rich in antioxidants that they are often harvested and used in cosmetics and dietary supplements.
Pink Lake In Senegal - Lake Retba
Reviewed by Vasanth
on
December 07, 2013
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