PINK Lake

“Pink lake”? There are 8  notable ones in total : Lake Retba (Senegal), Hutt Lagoon (Australia), Pink Lake (Australia), Lake Hillier (Australia), Salina de Torrevieja (Spain), Dusty Rose Lake (Canada), Masazirgol or Masazir Lake (Azerbaijan) and Quairading Pink Lake (Australia). 

A pink lake is a lake that has a red or pink colour usually due to the presence of algae that produces carotenoids, such as Dunaliella salina.

Here is how they look :

Pink Lake Retba, Dakar Region, Senegal (#1)

Pink Lake Retba, Dakar Region, Senegal - Locals collecting salt

Size: (3 sq. Km). “Lake Retba“ aka “Lac Rose” (meaning the pink lake) is a salt lake with  40% salt content  that rivals the Dead Sea of Jordan making it easy to float. Fortunately the high salt content supports the locals who extract the salt that finally goes into food products and cosmetics. To protect their skin Senegalese people apply a coat of natural butter. The Dakar Rally ends here.

Lake Retba

Pink Hutt Lagoon, Australia (#2)

Size: (14km x 2.3 km). “Hutt Lagoon” is a salt lake located near Hutt River by the west coast in Australia. The water is pink because of the algae which flourishes in the saline water. Hutt Lagoon gets its salinity because of the nearby ocean which pushes water on high tides and underground seepage.

Pink Lake, Australia (Goldfields-Esperance area) (#3)

The Pink Lake Australia

Size: (4km x 2km). Surprisingly people just call it the “Pink Lake” even though it is not pink all year. It shows similarity to the  Red Beach, China. When the lake water rises in salinity and the right amount of sun hits the lake, its green algae turns into a mix of pink and red. (photo credit)

Pink “Lake Hillier”, Western Australia (#4)

Pink lake hillier, Australia

Size: (600 metres x 250 meter). Located in the Recherche Archipelago in Australia Lake Hiller is #4 in our list of pink lakes. Unlike Lake Retba that changes color depending on the amount of sunlight, Lake Hillier has a permanent pink. It is also much smaller in area. As with other lakes, this one too has a high salt concentration.

Pink Lake of Salina de Torrevieja, Spain (#5)

Pink Lake of Salina de Torrevieja, Spain

“Salina de Torrevieja” is a pink lake that sandwiches the city of Torrevieja  against  the  sea.   Unlike the  pink Lake Retba, Salina de Torrevieja and its sister lake La Salina de La Mata have lower salt concentration, which is just the right concentration to keep the air clean, making it one of the healthiest places on earth.

Dusty Rose Lake, Canada (#6)

“Dusty Rose Lake” is the only pink lake that is not saline and does not have any algae formation; yet as pink as it gets all year. Though there is no clear explanation for the color, common belief is that underground glacial water passes through rocks collecting minerals and sediments that give it the pinkness.

Pink Masazir Lake or Masazirgol, Azerbaijan (#7)

Pink Masazir Lake or Masazirgol, Azerbaijan

Size: (10km sq). Compared to all other pink lakes Masazirgol or Masazir Lake is the most commercialized. With  many factories set up by the shores, the lake produces a over a million ton of salt every year. Clever use of all that salt which would otherwise make the water excessively saline.

Pink Lake of Quairading, Australia (#8)

Located in the small town of Quairading, the small lake is pink all most of the year with  some parts turning dark to an almost Maroon shade. Its not a big spectacle or popular like the other ones here. The salt concentration is lower and the size much smaller. Its still a pretty sight if you are in the neighbourhood.