Lake Retba, the only pink lake in Africa, is located less than an hour drive away from Dakar the capital city of Senegal.
It used to be the finishing point for the off-road car race, Dakar Rally. However, beyond that, it is a source of livelihood for thousands of Senegalese who come there to harvest salt.
The lake is said to be around three kilometres and its salt content is believed to have similar characteristics to that of the Dead Sea.
Lake Retba has a pink colour because of the presence of salt-loving micro-algae that produces a red pigment which changes colour when the sun rises.
Until 1970, only fishing activities were done on the lake, but locals started to collect and sell the salt when Senegal experienced economic hardship and drought.
The lake is one of the top tourist attraction sites in Senegal. Tourists who have been to Lake Retba said that it is intensely pink during the dry season and less colourful during the rainy season.
If you are interested in visiting the only pink lake in Africa, for the best experience, visit during the dry season.
Credit: Google