There’s something off about Lake Retba…(8 Photos)

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Located on the north Cap Vert peninsula of Senegal is a geological oddity. Depending on the time of day Lake Retba changes color from a light purple to a deep scarlet pink. The unusual coloring of the water is caused by harmless halophilic bacteria that thrive in the lake’s high-salinity environment. “The strawberry color is produced by salt-loving organism Dunaliella salina. They produce a red pigment that absorbs and uses the energy of sunlight to create more energy, turning the water pink,” said Michael Danson, an expert in bacteria from Britain’s Bath University.

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