As of today, past peak, season runs to ~June 30. Earth Exhibit tracks the live conditions and flags it the moment it is on.
Lake Retba, locally known as Lac Rose, is a shallow saline lake approximately 35 km northeast of Dakar, Senegal.
The lake covers roughly 3 square kilometres with a maximum depth of only 3 metres.
Its striking pink colour is produced by Dunaliella salina, a halophilic green microalga that generates beta-carotene pigment as protection against the extreme salinity and intense sunlight.
The salt concentration regularly exceeds 40% in parts of the lake, higher than the Dead Sea, making the water extremely buoyant.
The pink hue intensifies during the dry season (November through June) when evaporation concentrates the salt and algae.
At peak colour, typically late January through early March, the lake appears a deep strawberry pink, especially around midday under direct sun.
An estimated 1,500-3,000 local harvesters extract approximately 40,000-50,000 tonnes of salt annually, wading into the pink water and scooping salt from the lakebed into pirogues and baskets.
Where to see it
A taste of where to see it. The full map, exact coordinates and the best timing for each spot live in the app.
| Viewing spots |
|---|
| Lake Retba Southern Shore (Main Tourist Area) |
| Lake Retba Eastern Shore (Salt Harvesting Fields) |
| + 1 more spot, with exact coordinates and timing, in the app → |
This is the short version
This page shows a taste. The app has the full list of where to see this, the exact timing, and live conditions for 1,000+ natural phenomena worldwide, so you know the moment one is genuinely worth the trip.