The Splendid Views of Dakar

Located on Cape Verde and facing the Atlantic Ocean coast, Dakar is the capital, largest city, and main administrative center of Senegal, where its state parliament and the president’s residence are located. Since it is located in the most western part of Africa, Dakar poses as an extremely important starting point for trans-Atlantic and European trade businesses, and this elevates it to a regional port.

The geographic location of Dakar is the fortress of the Atlantic route and an important gateway of Western Africa. It also serves as an important transfer station for ships navigating between Europe and South America, and between Southern Africa and North America. There are no high quality beaches in the city, for it is mainly covered with volcano ash reefs. Yet, out of Dakar to the south along the coastline are some beaches, with Soumbédioune and Secret Beach being the most reputable ones. Lake Retba, a pink lake, amazes every one traveling to this area. Goree Island, one of the earliest colonies developed in Western Africa by the past Europeans, is gorgeous and features museums and ancient castle relics, and is frequently visited by travelers. The Grand Mosque of Dakar, IFAN Museum of African Arts, and African Renaissance Monument are places you cannot miss when visiting the city.

What makes Dakar rich in natural beauty and tourism resources? No doubt, this is closely connected to its special location: the most western part of Africa, an eastern neighbor of the Atlantic Ocean, a southern neighbor of the Sahara Desert, and it shares borders with dense jungles in the eastern and southern Africa. This is one of the reasons why Senegal has so many stunning views.

Located more than 35km northeast of downtown Dakar is the famous Lake Retba, also referred to as Lac Rose by locals, because it is a pink salt water lake, which covers an area of 3km and takes the shape of an oval, like a pink ruby set in the golden sand. The splendid color of the lake is caused by a species of algae that gives off a red pigment to assist in absorbing light. With the change of seasons, the density of the lake water begins to change its own color from light green to crimson. The most beautiful season of the lake falls during each year’s December to the following year’s January. This is also the end of the Dakar Rally (formerly known as the "Paris–Dakar Rally").