Outlook for Senegal's pink lake not so rosy

Lake Retba in western Senegal, also known as Lac Rose or the "pink lake" for its color, is under consideration as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The lake's high salinity — up to 40% — and rare microbiome used to encourage the formation of an algae that colored the water pink. The lake not only attracted tourists due to its color, but its high salinity also provided a livelihood for many people.

Salt is a crucial means of living for hundreds of families in the region. Everything changed in September 2022, when torrential rains ripped a wide channel near the shore. The water level rose and the valuable mountains of salt sank. Some 7,000 tons of salt worth $700,000 (€645,000) were destroyed, according to the Lake Retba Salt Mining Association.

The tourist attraction also lost its pink coloring due to the heavy rains: brownish-green water was washed into the lake from the wide canal which formed nearby, leading to contamination.

The change in the composition of the lake's water has had a devastating effect on the fish population, which has adapted to the high salt content. It's feared that salt harvests will no longer be possible, depriving around 3,000 people of their livelihood. The souvenir sellers on the lake's shore also fear for their future, if the water remains brownish-green.

During the peak season, from late January to early March, the pink color of the lake was particularly bright. Experts fear the continuing influx of sediment-rich water could permanently alter the lake's ecosystem. This would spell disaster for all those who make a living from tourism at the lake.