10 Stunning Hidden Paradises From Around The World

Lake Retba: There are a handful of names that have been given to this lake, some by locals and some by visitors, but they all essentially mean the same thing: The Pink Lake. And while that may not be the most creative moniker, it's definitely the most accurate. Lake Retba is located in Senegal, and it's only separated from the Atlantic Ocean by a thin strip of sand dunes. Because of that slight geographic separation, a species of algae called Dunaliella salina has been able to proliferate in the lake's warm waters.Found only in a few places in the world, Dunaliella algae are salt lovers—which is good, because Lake Retba is as salty as the Dead Sea. In order to survive such salty conditions, Dunaliella produce a red pigment that allows them to absorb more sunlight and produce beta carotene, which acts as a buffer against the salt. The saltier the lake gets (particularly in the dry season), the deeper the red gets. During particularly dry seasons, the lake will take on a hue that can only be described as bloody.