很多人对塞内加尔的第一印象都源于那一抹不真实的粉红色。雷特巴湖(Lake Retba)在当地被称为玫瑰湖(Lac Rose),位于达喀尔(Dakar)东北方向约30多公里处。这片面积将近3平方公里的水域,不仅是塞内加尔标志性的自然奇观,更是数百名盐民赖以生存的家园。想要真正看透这片湖,只靠一张滤镜照片是不够的,你需要了解它的脾气、它的成因,以及它背后那份沉甸甸的劳动。前两句要直接告诉你,雷特巴湖之所以出名是因为其盐度高达40%,在特定光照下会呈现出迷人的粉红色,这里曾是著名的达喀尔拉力赛终点线,承载着无数赛车手的终点梦想。
玫瑰湖的颜色并不是魔法,而是一场奇妙的生物化学反应。由于湖水被狭窄的沙丘与大西洋隔开,水分不断蒸发导致盐分极度浓缩。在这种含盐量超过每升400克的极咸环境里,几乎没有鱼类能生存,却成了杜氏盐藻(Dunaliella salina)的天堂。为了在强烈的紫外线下保护自己,这种藻类会产生大量的β-胡萝卜素。当阳光斜射进湖水,这些红色的色素就会反射出粉红、橙红甚至紫红色的光泽。说真的,当你站在岸边看到湖面像草莓奶昔一样浓郁时,那种视觉冲击力确实很难用语言形容。
如果你在雨季跑过来,可能会大失所望,因为那时候湖水被雨水稀释,看起来可能只是灰蒙蒙的或者淡绿色。想看最正的粉红色,挑对时间比什么都重要。每年的11月到次年6月是这里的旱季,也是最佳观赏期。尤其是1月到3月之间,北方的哈马丹风(Harmattan)吹过,水分蒸发达到顶峰,湖水的盐度最高,颜色也最浓郁。建议选一个阳光灿烂的晴天,在中午12点到下午2点之间抵达,这时候光线垂直照射,色彩效果最为震撼。出发前最好在社交媒体上看看最近几天的实拍图,因为近些年气候变化导致雨量不稳定,湖水的含盐量和颜色深度每年都在变。
钱的问题得算清楚。如果你住在达喀尔市区,打车去玫瑰湖是最常见的选择。单程距离大约35公里,但达喀尔的交通拥堵是出了名的,运气不好可能要开一个半小时。包一辆出租车往返加上中间等待的时间,通常需要30,000到40,000西非法郎(CFA),折合人民币大约350到480元。谈价格时记得确认是否包含高速费(Péage),因为走高速路能节省至少半小时。如果你想省钱,也可以去达喀尔的车站找那种拼车的出租车(Sept-place),但那需要多次换乘,对于第一次出国的游客来说难度不小。
如果你打算下飞机直接去玫瑰湖,现在的布莱兹·迪亚涅国际机场(DSS)距离湖区其实比市区更近。从机场开车过去大约40公里,走收费公路大约45分钟就能到。很多湖边的营地或酒店提供接机服务,价格通常在25,000西非法郎左右。如果你只是想把玫瑰湖当作中转站,建议先在湖边住一晚,避开达喀尔市区的嘈杂。这里有很多草编顶的特色小木屋,推开窗就能闻到咸咸的空气,这种体验是市区酒店给不了的。
比起拍照打卡,我更建议你花点时间看看湖里的采盐人。这可能是世界上最辛苦的工作之一。这些壮汉每天要在水里泡上六七个小时,为了防止高浓度盐水腐蚀皮肤,他们会在全身涂满乳木果油(Shea Butter)。他们驾驶着纯手工打造的小木船划向湖心,用长矛铲松湖底厚厚的盐层,再徒手捞进筐里。一艘满载的小船能装1吨多盐,全靠人工运上岸。岸边那一座座洁白的盐山,都是这样一筐一筐堆出来的。看着他们黝黑的皮肤与洁白的盐堆形成的鲜明对比,你会对生活有新的感触。
既然来了,总得下水试试。雷特巴湖的浮力跟约旦的死海不相上下,即便你完全不会游泳,也能轻而易举地平躺在水面上看天。不过有几点必须注意。湖底的结晶盐很扎脚,最好穿着凉鞋下水。千万不要让湖水溅进眼睛里,那种灼烧感会让你终生难忘。下水前确认好岸边有没有冲凉的地方,通常附近的村民会提着淡水桶等在岸边,冲一次澡大约收500到1000西非法郎。如果没有淡水冲洗,等身体干了之后,你会发现全身结了一层白花花的盐壳,皮肤会非常难受。
玫瑰湖之所以能成为达喀尔拉力赛的终点,是因为它周围有起伏的沙丘和开阔的荒滩。如果不满足于只在岸边看水,可以租一辆全地形越野车(ATV)或者四驱吉普车。在沙丘上飞驰一段,尽头就是大西洋的巨浪,那种一半是粉色湖泊、一半是蓝色大海的视角非常绝。如果你想慢下来,也可以选择骑骆驼,伴随着叮当的铃声绕湖走一圈。骑骆驼的价格通常需要反复博弈,起步价可能报得很高,基本按20分钟5000西非法郎左右去谈比较合理。
很多人问玫瑰湖的门票是多少钱,事实上,雷特巴湖是一个开放式的自然区域,目前没有严格意义上的大门票。但你只要一下车,就会有很多当地向导围上来。说实话,如果你不需要人讲解或者带路,完全可以礼貌拒绝。但如果你想坐那种木船去湖心看采盐,这就是要花钱的地方了。一艘船坐两三个人的价格大约在10,000西非法郎左右。记住,所有的价格都要提前谈死,包括是否包含回程,以及是否包含拍照的费用。这里的小商贩比较热情,如果不想买纪念品,不要轻易接对方递过来的项链或木雕。
湖边的日照强度非常可怕,加上盐水的反射,紫外线是加倍的。防晒霜、遮阳帽和墨镜是标配,缺一不可。关于吃的,湖边有几家不错的景观餐厅,提供塞内加尔国菜鱼饭(Thieboudienne)。由于这里地处偏远,餐厅的物价会比市区稍贵,一份主食加饮料大约在7,000到10,000西非法郎。如果不习惯当地菜,建议自己带点面包和充足的饮用水。这里风沙大,用餐时要注意防风。另外,玫瑰湖的蚊子在黄昏时分非常多,如果你打算留下来看日落,驱蚊喷雾一定要随身带好。
由于2022年和2023年的异常暴雨,大量淡水涌入导致湖水盐度下降,玫瑰湖曾一度失去了粉红色,变成了普通湖水的颜色。目前生态系统正在缓慢恢复中,颜色虽然没以前巅峰时期那么深,但在干旱月份的午后,依然能看到明显的粉红色彩。建议出发前在社交媒体上搜索最新的地理位置标签查看游客实时动态。
如果只是从达喀尔出发的一日游,预留4到5个小时就足够了,其中包括了往返大约2小时的车程,以及2到3小时的岸边游览、坐船和拍照时间。如果你还想体验沙丘越野车或者在湖边吃顿悠闲的午餐,那么安排一整天会更加从容,不建议赶在早晚高峰期间进出达喀尔市区。
在雷特巴湖漂浮是安全的,因为浮力极高不会沉没,但由于含盐量高达40%,身上有伤口的人千万不要下水,否则会极其刺痛。漂浮时间建议控制在15分钟以内,上岸后必须立刻用淡水冲洗全身,否则高浓度盐分会导致皮肤脱水。另外,不要试图潜水或游泳,防止盐水进入鼻腔或口腔造成黏膜损伤。
岸边有很多卖一小袋一小袋粗盐的摊位,甚至还有染成五颜六色的观赏盐,价格非常便宜。虽然这种盐是天然采集的,但由于加工环境比较原始,通常只建议带回来作为洗浴盐或者装饰品,不建议直接食用。如果你想带走,记得用多层塑料袋密封好,防止盐分受潮漏出来腐蚀行李箱里的其他物品。湖边的手工乳木果油反而更值得购买,那是当地妇女手工熬制的,对干燥皮肤修复效果很好。
Travels Mander Jones Lac Rose measures just three square kilometres and is placed approximately 45 kilometres north-east of the capital, Dakar. It is a unique feature of not only Senegal, but the rest of Africa. You can see salt diggers in the lake carting out loads by the bucket. Then if you feel inclined, float in it. It's one of the most buoyant bodies of water on earth and resembles the Dead Sea in Palestine and Jordan. The obvious difference is that you're rewarded by spotting its ever-changing colours from pink to reddy-orange. Only Lake Hillier in Australia has similar features of this size. For those thrill seekers out there Lake Retba - formally referred to - is just the place to head to. The water gets its striking hue from a bacteria called Dunaliella which changes colour in order to absorb sunlight. I spent a quarter of an hour in its waters enjoying the warm sun beating down. The agreeable water temperature as I squelched my feet in the jet black clay at the bottom was somewhat soothing.
Jack Maitland The lake isn’t pink at the moment as there is too much water in the lake. Worth checking in advance of a visit to manage your expectations. We had a nice quiet boat ride - no motors - and saw the salt harvesting close up. Bargain hard for the price - initial prices were set very high. Ask around to find out the going price if you can. There is a lot of attempts to on-sell other trips and the worst hassling we’ve experienced in Senegal by the souvenir sellers. Would be better with some regulation.
RJ Saif Ullah Lake Retba, also known as Lac Rose (meaning "pink lake"), lies north of the Cap Vert peninsula in Senegal, some 35 km (22 mi) north-east of the capital, Dakar, in northwest Africa. It is named for its pink waters caused by Dunaliella salina algae and is known for its high salt content, up to 40% in some areas. Its colour is usually particularly strong from late January to early March, during the dry season; however, flooding in September 2022 not only disrupted salt harvesting activities on the lake, but because it caused the lake to lose its colour, had a negative effect on tourism. The lake is situated 35 km (22 mi) north-east of Dakar, separated from the Atlantic Ocean only by a narrow corridor of dunes, and is named for its pink waters, which are caused by Dunaliella salina algae. The algae produce a red pigment to help them absorb sunlight, which gives them energy to create ATP. The color is particularly visible during the dry season (from November to May) and less visible during the rainy season (June to October).
vanick kam Nature is mesmerising. This pink lake reminded me of that. 😍🔥 I recommend taking a tour. Touch the water, feel it’s consistence. Buy sand paintings from Picasso and check the jewellery and mask shops around.
Sujith_Kumar The place is situated just about 35-40 kms from the Senegal's capital city, Dakar. The name comes from the lake's colour, pink. The lake's high salinity enables easy swimming capability. One can experience the salt extraction process by the local Senegalese. Apart from the stunning view of the lake, you can experience the quad bike ride to the adjoing ocean, via sand dunes. One should not miss this ride which is at affordable prices.