Salt trade, tourism and color return to Senegal’s Pink Lake

The influx of freshwater diluted the lake’s highly saline waters, disrupting both salt formation and the conditions needed for its famous pink color, Youm said.

“We woke up one morning, and we had lost everything,” Toure said.

Associations representing salt producers, tour operators, artisans and local businesses immediately got to work raising around $40,000 to fund pumping operations aimed at removing excess water from the lake, Mbaye said. The money was used to rent pumps, buy fuel and install about 650 yards of piping to drain water toward the sea, he said.

Around 100 volunteers helped install, operate and monitor the pumping system, Mbaye said, adding that local authorities later helped by providing a larger pump and electricity.

As salinity gradually returned, so did the lake’s color.

Local hotels are now preparing for tourists to follow suit, and Toure is once again spending hours in the water extracting salt.

“The work is physically demanding,” he said, rubbing shea butter onto his skin for protection.

But he has no qualms with his chosen career.

“The money I earned from this salt allowed me to buy land, horses and cattle. Everything comes from the lake,” he said.

“If someone wanted to become a salt harvester, I would tell them not to hesitate … it’s worth it.”