Colorful lakes never cease to amaze me, obviously. And Lake Retba, or as the locals call it, Lac Rose, in Senegal isn't an exception. While the intensity of the hue fluctuates, the pretty pink water certainly stands out against the Senegal landscape.
Apparently, the lake's coloring is a result of a bacteria that is drawn to the water's high salt content. "The bacteria produces a red pigment in order to absorb the sunlight, thus giving the lake its unique color," according to the destination's website. The lake serves mainly as a tourist spot and locals farm salt from the bottom with their bare hands.
During the dry season in Senegal, the salinity content of the water, which is normally very high anyway, exceeds that of the Dead Sea! Because of this, the best time to visit is definitely during the dry season, which spans from November to June. Because the bacteria in the lake isn't harmful to humans, feel free to take a dip in the pink water when you visit!
Just a few narrow dunes separate the pink lake from the Atlantic Ocean.