“I see pink mangrove”

It looks like a visual hallucination, a bit like if someone had spilled a pot of paint in water which would have instantly changed color. But it’s not a collective illusion, as can attest the thousands of people who witnessed the phenomenon since it emerged in Martinique. It all started in June 2020 in Taupinière in Diamant, before happening again a year later, this time attracting the attention of national media. In fact, this mysterious coloration has been occurring regularly in recent years in Diamant (Anse Cafard, Taupinière), Sainte Anne, and Rivière Pilote. So, it’s a completely pink mangrove that appeared in Trinity, to the delight of hikers and other curious people. This phenomenon, as rare as it is ephemeral – it lasted three weeks in 2020 – is completely natural, and is simply due to algae. It’s less sexy than it seemed at first, but we’ll explain everything about the “mangrose.”

What phenomenon is behind the pink mangrove ?

Nature sometimes surprises us with spectacular sights, such as the surreal pink mangrove. It’s not a bad omen, but a 100% natural phenomenon. When it’s very hot, fresh water evaporates, leaving the salty water in the mangrove. This concentration of minerals and salt-tolerant algae can color the water brown or pink. The algae responsible for this is called Dunaliella salina, a green algae species found particularly in areas with moderate salinity. The mystery of this pink color was solved in 1838 by French botanist Michel Félix Dunal. This discovery put an end to a widely held belief that attributed the pink color to shrimp. This algae is one of the richest sources of beta-carotene and is used in anti-aging skin treatments.

Similar phenomena can also be found in India at the Lonar Lake, and in Senegal at the Pink Lake. Finally, despite the fact that the pink mangrove presents no danger, it’s strongly advised not to swim in it and to admire it with your eyes only.