Pink Lake in Crimea: description, where it is and how to get there. Pink lake retba Pink lake

It would seem, what else can surprise a continent in which almost everything is unusual? But Lake Hillier, with its bright pink water, is an unsolved wonder of stunning Australian nature.

It is located in the Recherche archipelago, on its Middle (Middle), near south coast Australia. Lake Hiller is salty and shallow, and the water in it has a juicy density. When you fly low enough on an airplane, a stunning view opens up, worthy of the brush of a surrealist artist: in the middle of the island lies a bright pink oval with smooth edges, framed by a white “frame” of sea salt and dark green eucalyptus forest. The pink surface of Lake Hillier is often compared to a giant bubble gum or glittery cake frosting.

History of a miracle

Pink Lake in Australia it was first mentioned back in 1802 in the notes of Matthew Flinders. This famous British hydrographer and navigator stopped at Middle Island during his trip to Sydney.

Then whalers and hunters who lived off the southern coast of the mainland in the 30-40s of the 19th century told stories about this lake.

At the beginning of the last century, they decided to mine salt here, but after six years the activity was stopped. And in the 50s, the first scientific studies of amazing color were carried out.

Now Lake Hillier, Australia, is visited by numerous tourists who want to see for themselves that it really is as pink as in the photographs.

Interesting fact

Water appears bright pink in any quantity, even in a small vessel, regardless of the viewing angle.

Imagine the sunset as the orange sun slowly sinks into the clear pink water from the soft pink Australian sky!

A little information

The dimensions of the reservoir are quite small - about 600 meters long and 200 meters wide. The amazing pink water is separated from the ocean by a strip of sand covered with a dense eucalyptus forest. Naturally appeared around the lake white ring sea salt, which adds additional contrast. It is quite difficult to approach the lake due to the dense ring that surrounds the lake. But, nevertheless, you can walk here and even swim in the salty pink water!

Why is it pink?

Scientists believed that Lake Hillier owes its rich pink color to a special Dunaliella salina, which produces a bright red pigment in very salty water. Similar algae have been found in other pink lakes around the world.

Samples from Lake Hillier were carefully studied, but no traces of the supposed algae were found. Research was carried out by various scientists and different time, so there is no doubt about the reliability of the result. The color of the water remains a mystery for now.

Australia loves to amaze the imagination with such things, so pink Lake Hillier has taken its place worthy place among living wonders local nature, along with the vibrant red of Shark Harbour, the Te Pinnacles desert of Nambung National Park, the striped Bungle Bungle Mountains, Kangaroo Island, the Simpsons Desert and the Great Barrier Reef.

Senegal, which is located in West Africa, famous for the extraordinary Pink Lake, its color reminiscent of a strawberry cocktail. Lake Retba is an amazing natural phenomenon, unique in its kind, with a truly rich pink color. Exactly this fact, made it one of the main attractions of Senegal. What is the secret of this miracle of nature, why does the lake have such a color, and what life stories are associated with it?

In fact, everything is quite simple, the water in Lake Retba is salty to such an extent that it is suitable for the life of only one type of microorganisms, which, in turn, give the color, which varies from pale pink to brown. The salt concentration here is many times higher than in the Dead Sea. The color intensity varies depending on the time of day, namely the angle of incidence of the sun's rays, as well as the weather. During drought, the pink color is most pronounced.

Pink Lake is located near the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, 30 km from the capital of Senegal - Dakar. The area of Retba is 3 square kilometers.

There is an entire village located on the shore of the lake, and local residents spend their days extracting salt from the bottom of the lake and pouring it into boats. This work is very hard, but the pay for it is not bad.

Previously, Lake Retba was not a lake at all; once upon a time it was a lagoon. But year after year, the Atlantic surf brought sand, which subsequently caused the disappearance of the channel connecting the lagoon with the ocean. For many years the lake was unremarkable. But in the 70s, there was a severe drought in Senegal, the Retba became shallow, and the extraction of salt, which lay in a large layer at the bottom, became quite a profitable business.

Nowadays people extract salt from the lake, standing shoulder-deep in the water, but about 20 years ago there was so little of it that it was possible to walk. Mining great amount salts from the bottom of the Pink Lake, people make it deeper very quickly. In some places the bottom level dropped by three or more meters.

Video: AROUND THE WORLD: Pink Lake Retba

The ancient lands of the Dark Continent contain a lot natural wonders, one of which is a fantastic lake located near 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. Narrow band 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 rich salt deposits are the main source of income for the 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 punt boats are capable of holding 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 continent. 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, thousands of tourists come to the pink waters of Retba, wanting to see and capture with their own eyes the extraordinary miracle of nature. For those who are just about to discover Senegal and its notable 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 fabulous landscape at dawn or dusk there is a chain of small hotels nearby.
From entertainment - romantic walks on boats on the pink surface of the lake, car trips along the picturesque coastline. For a small fee, tourists can get acquainted with all the intricacies of salt extraction and try themselves in this difficult task. Local residents are happy to take everyone 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 reserve.

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.

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 is incredible nature education different 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, attracting especially large numbers 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 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 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.

One of the most amazing natural phenomena, is the existence of reservoirs whose water has a pink tint. Of course, this is very rare. Nevertheless, they exist. Here are photographs of such lakes around the world.

Heeler is a lake in southwestern Australia, on Middle Island. Notable for the pink color of the waters. The edges of the lake are surrounded by sand and eucalyptus forest. The island and lake were discovered during the expedition of British navigator Matthew Flinders in 1802. Captain Flinders is said to have spotted the lake while climbing to the top of the island. At the beginning of the 20th century, salt mining began in Lake Hillier, but it was stopped six years later.

It was assumed that the reason for the pink color of the water was the salinity and specific microorganisms living in the lake. Tests conducted in 1950 did not confirm these assumptions. Several studies were carried out in subsequent years, and this moment The reason for the unusual color of the water has not been solved.

From above, Lake Hiller looks like an illustration from a science fiction novel.

Pilot Chuck Berry flies over Lake Hillier, Australia.

Laguna Rosa, pink lake of Salina de Torrevieja in Alicante, Spain. The strange pink-purple color of the Torrevieja lagoon is caused by pigments from Halobacterium bacteria, which live in the extreme salty environments of the lake.

Laguna Rosa as seen from space.

Salt deposits at Salina de Torrevieja.

Not far from the capital of Senegal, Dakar, is one of the unique natural wonders in the world - Lake Retba, also known as Pink Lake due to its unusual color. The unusual color of the lake, which is reflected in its name, is associated with the presence of cyanobacteria in the water, which produce a special pigment. The reservoir, covering an area of 3 square kilometers, is also characterized high salinity, this allows people to float easily on the water, just like the Dead Sea.

Retba is also known as Lac Rose. Photo from space.

Salt mining on Lake Retba.

Hutt Lagoon is located near Gregory, Australia. Maximum length is 8.6 miles (14 km) width 1.4 miles (2.3 km); The maximum depth of Hutt Lagoon is only 2.1 feet (0.65 m). Algae gives the water its pink color.

Lake Hutt Lagoon in Western Australia.

A large algae production plant has been built at Hutt Lagoon.

Lake Masazir, Azerbaijan. Salt is mined here.

Salt extraction from Lake Masazir.

Lake Natron in northern Tanzania. It is, at most, 57 kilometers (35 miles) long and 22 kilometers (14 miles) wide. The water temperature on the lake is often above 40 ° C. Lake Natron is covered with a crust of salt, which periodically turns red and pink. This is the result of the vital activity of microorganisms that live in the lake. The lake is home to millions of flamingos.

Natron, Tanzania. View from space.

Despite the high temperatures and high salt content, Lake Natron is home to the world's only population of endangered lesser flamingos.

Laguna Colorada, aka Red Lagoon, in Bolivia. It is located in Eduardo Avaroa Andean national reserve and close to the border with Chile." This lake is 6.6 miles (10.7 km) long, about 6 miles (9.6 km) wide. The average depth is only 13.8 inches (35 cm), with a maximum depth of 4.9 feet (1.5 m).

Flamingos in Laguna Colorada, Bolivia.

Lama near the Colorada Lagoon.

Kuerading is a pink lake located 11 km east of city of the same name in Western Australia, on Bruce Rock Road.

Lake Kuerading, view from above.

Salina Cervia, Italy. Salt has been mined here since Etruscan times. In the Middle Ages, this lake was turned into a swamp, but Pope Innocent XII ordered its restoration in 1697.

Salt mining at Salina Cervia.

Dusty Rose Lake in British Columbia. Below on Google Map.

Lake Eyre, otherwise known as Lake Eyre, is the lowest point in Australia. This is the pink lake South Australia has a surface area of about 3,668 square miles, with an average depth ranging from 5 feet (1.5 m) to 13 feet (4 m). The pink color comes from the seaweed that grows here in abundance.

Murray-Sunset National Park has four lakes that exude vibrant shades of pink: Lake Crosby, Lake Becking, Lake Kenyon and Lake Hardy" Pink Lake above Kenyon Lake. The color of these lakes is due to the presence of red algae, which, along with the layer of salt in the lakes, creates this unusual hue.

Lake Beking. Sunset.

Lake Crosby.

Pink Kenyon Lake national park Murray Sunset, Australia.

Kenyon Lake

Several thousand years ago Lake Magadi was freshwater.

McLeod Lake. Australia.

Salt ponds in San Francisco Bay. Various types algae and high salt concentration cause the color of the water to change several times during the season.

Pink salt Lake in Victoria, Australia.

Pink waves of Pink Lake, Australia.

Reeds and pink water on the lake in Westgate Park, Melbourne, Australia.

Pink Searles Lake near Trona in the Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County, California. USA.

Salt water lake in Westgate Park, Australia.

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