The strawberry milkshake lake: African lake is turned pink by high levels of salt

Boats float on what looks like a giant strawberry milkshake lake.

The vessels were bobbing on

Lake Retba in Senegal, which turns a bizarre pinkish colour due to bacteria and high levels of salt in the water.

Just like the Dead Sea, swimmers can float on its surface.

Michael Danson, professor of Biochemistry at Bath University, reportedly said: "The strawberry colour is produced by salt-loving organism Dunaliella salina.

"They produce a red pigment that absorbs and uses the energy of sunlight to create more energy, turning the water pink.

"Lakes like Retba and the Dead Sea, which have high salt concentrations, were once thought to be incompatible with life - hence the names. But they are very much alive."