Lake Rose is a famous natural attraction in Senegal. Located 35 kilometres northeast of Dakar, Senegal's capital, it is named for the pink color of the lake from December to early the following year.
Located just a few hundred meters from the Atlantic Ocean, the Rose Lake is several times more salinous than the seawater, and most creatures cannot tolerate the harsh conditions here. Despite this, a unique ecosystem has developed around the lake, with vibrant plants such as Suaeda salsa and Casuarina all over the area, and some birds also use it as a habitat or a stopover for migration.
As for the cause of the color of the water in Lake Rose, the mainstream theory is that it is due to the presence of a microorganism called salt algae in the lake's water. They are more active in conditions of strong light, high salt, and high temperatures, and produce large amounts of carotene. When the dry season arrives, when precipitation decreases and evaporation is severe, pigments accumulate in large quantities, giving the lake an attractive pink color. In the rainy season, a large amount of precipitation dilutes the pigment, and the lake naturally returns to a pale green color.
For Senegalese, Lake Rose is a treasure from heaven. On the one hand, the beautiful lake scenery and unique ecological environment attract a large number of tourists every year, which strongly promotes the development of the local tourism industry and brings relatively rich income to the locals. On the other hand, the large amount of salt crystals deposited at the bottom of the lake is an important economic factor for local salt miners. Experienced laborers will first coat their bodies with local specialty emulsifiable concentrate and wood oil to prevent salt cauterization**, and then go into the water, use sticks to find the location of salt crystals in the lake, break them and transport them back to the shore. Tens of thousands of tonnes of lake salt are produced annually after primary processing, of which coarse salt is exported in large quantities for industrial use, and fine salt is used to marinate meat and seafood. In addition to locals, many immigrants from neighbouring countries also join the artisanal salt mining industry, employing around 3,000 people at its peak, with Guineans, Malians, Gambians and Burkina Faso.
Unfortunately, in recent years, the once beautiful Rose Lake has gradually lost its luster. More and more tourists complain that Rose Lake is "not powdered". According to a study by the local Rose Lake Conservation Recommendation Committee, this is partly due to the fact that too much rain has fallen in recent years, diluting the salinity of the lake and inhibiting the growth of salt algae. On the other hand, it is because a large amount of surface sewage flows into Rose Lake, causing pollution and destroying the entire lake's ecosystem. Especially during the 2022 rainy season, the Dakar region received significantly higher rainfall than usual, with a large amount of rain flowing into the lake. At the same time, in order to ensure that the living areas are not flooded, a large amount of water, including municipal sewage, is diverted into the low-lying Rose Lake. According to the data, at the height of the situation, the average depth of the lake once increased from 3 meters to 6 meters, and a large amount of garbage floated on the surface of the lake, and there were piles of garbage around the lake. In the words of the local **, "the scene is shocking".
The study also pointed out that the local urbanization process is also an important cause of the "fading" of the lake. In recent years, Dakar's population has grown rapidly, and the expansion of its urban areas has accelerated. From 2013 to 2021, the population of Sangarqam District, where Rose Lake is located, increased from 980,000 people have risen sharply to 1230,000 people. Improper urbanization is also to blame, as the soil's ability to absorb water is severely weakened due to the extensive use of impervious materials on the pavement.
Today, the "faded" Rose Lake has affected the livelihoods of the locals. On the one hand, the number of tourists is declining and hotel occupancy rates are also declining, which is a concern for many people working in the tourism and related industries. On the other hand, a large number of artisanal salt miners have found other ways to make a living, and only a few hundred are still holding on. Overall, the commercial value of Rose Lake is shrinking.
We even found fish in the lake, which shows that it is nowhere near as salinity as it used to be. Ibrahima Mbaye, president of a local environmental association, said.
At present, the local ecological and environmental protection department and some non-governmental organizations are trying to save Rose Lake. Some experts have proposed a "Rose Lake Conservation and Management Plan", which proposes to implement measures such as prohibiting the dumping of garbage into the lake, removing sand dunes around the lake area to reduce siltation at the lake bottom, rationally allocating land in the lake area, and protecting vegetation. It is expected that Rose Lake can return to the "peak of appearance". This article**: Economy** Author: Lin Jiaquan).
*:Economy**.