Kaolack is a major city in central Senegal, located along the Saloum River and serving as an important commercial center for the surrounding agricultural region. Its position near the river and at the crossroads of routes linking Dakar with southeastern Senegal has helped make it a significant trading and transport hub.
Lake Retba, also known as Lac Rose, is a shallow salt lake near the Atlantic coast, north of Dakar. Its water is separated from the ocean by a narrow belt of dunes, creating a landscape of pale sand, salt flats, and low scrub. The lake is best known for its high salt concentration, which can produce pink, reddish, or mauve tones under particular conditions of sunlight and water chemistry. Its appearance changes with weather and light rather than remaining one fixed color.