In Senegal, some 20 miles from the capital of Dakar, lies the Pink Lake('Lac Rose' in French, Lake Retba to the locals). It is shallow and warm with a high salt content(almost 40%), making everything buoyant. During
the week, the salt collectors are busy crushing the
bottom of the lake, which consists of a thick crust of salt that they
gather to sell. They have to cover their skin in shea butter, in order to work in the extreme heat. The
lake is particularly spectacular at dawn and dusk. Cyanobacteria in the salty waters
produce the unique vibrant pink color. The lake is the remains of a
fossil sea that once occupied all of Sénégal, and is now a vital source of income and a tourist attraction.
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