Pedra de Lume salt lagoon is a very special place. An ancient volcanic crater sank below sea level long ago, and sea water seeped in through cracks in the rock. Over thousands of years the water evaporated in the hot sun, leaving behind layer upon layer of salt. The water that remains in the lagoon is so salty that it turns a beautiful rosy pink colour.
The pink colour comes from tiny microorganisms called halophytes that love extremely salty water. They produce a pink-red pigment, which tints the water. The same thing happens in some salt lakes in other parts of the world, like Lake Hillier in Australia. It looks like a giant strawberry milkshake from above.
For hundreds of years, workers have harvested salt from Pedra de Lume by flooding the lagoon with fresh sea water, letting it evaporate, and then raking up the salt crystals by hand. This kind of salt was once a very valuable trade good. Today some tourists come to float in the super-salty water — you bob like a cork because the salt is so dense.
The island of Sal is also famous for its beaches and wind sports. Because it is very flat and windy, it became one of the world's top destinations for windsurfing and kitesurfing. The warm, shallow water makes it safe for beginners to learn.