02
Jul
The pink lake of Senegal This is Lake Retba, located in Senegal, western Africa, and is known for its unusual pink colour and high salt content. The colour of the Lake is primarily due to the bacterium, Dunaliella salina, which is characterised by its ability to produce carotenoids, or organic pigments. While few organisms are able to survive in such salty conditions, D. salina produce high concentrations of beta-carotene for protection against the intense light that reflects off the salt, and glycerol to prevent cellular rupture due to osmotic pressure.

The pink lake of Senegal

This is Lake Retba, located in Senegal, western Africa, and is known for its unusual pink colour and high salt content.

The colour of the Lake is primarily due to the bacterium, Dunaliella salina, which is characterised by its ability to produce carotenoids, or organic pigments.

While few organisms are able to survive in such salty conditions, D. salina produce high concentrations of beta-carotene for protection against the intense light that reflects off the salt, and glycerol to prevent cellular rupture due to osmotic pressure.

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#science #lake retba #senegal #pink #africa #salt #carotenoid #carotene #glycerol #dunaliella salina #osmosis

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SCIENCE has explained nothing; the more we know the more fantastic the world becomes and the profounder the surrounding darkness.

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