The Mystery of the Pink Lake: A Salty Adventure in Senegal
In The Mystery of the Pink Lake: A Salty Adventure in Senegal, Ubercorn and his friends visit Lake Retba, also called the Milkshake Lake, in Senegal, Africa. The lake is pink because of tiny creatures called algae that live in the water and love the sunshine. People collect salt from the bottom of the lake to sell, and the water is very salty because it's connected to the ocean. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Go Jetters, a series that follows the adventures of four plucky international heroes as they travel the globe visiting the world’s most famous landmarks with their friend and mentor, Ubercorn, a disco-dancing unicorn.
Lesson Express
Q: What might it would be like to swim in a lake that has a lot of salt in the water?
A: Swimming in a salty lake might feel different because the water is heavier and it might help you float more easily. But it could also sting if it got in your eyes!
Q: What might happen if there were no algae in the lake?
A: Without the algae, the lake wouldn’t be pink. The water would probably look clear or a different color, because the algae are what make it pink!
Q: Why do people want to collect the salt from Lake Retba?
A: People collect the salt because it is useful for things like seasoning food and preserving things. It’s valuable to sell and can be used in many ways.