It is in the Gregory Rift, which is the eastern branch of the East African Rift. Anele is a web developer and a Pan-Africanist who believes bad leadership is the only thing keeping Africa from taking its rightful place in the modern world. Once the power plant is place, it will lead to huge influx of siltation which will disrupt the salinity balance of Lake Natron. The lake has inspired the nature documentary The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos by Disneynature, for its close relationship with the Lesser flamingoes as their only regular breeding area. Subscribe to receive email updates. It is in the Gregory Rift, which is the eastern branch of the East African Rift. 27. Lake Natron is a shallow salt lake (also known as an alkaline or soda lake), 58 km long and 22 km wide. At present, 50 east African conservation & environmental organizations are running a worldwide campaign to end the soda ash project construction by Tata Chemicals Ltd, Mumbai, India, and National Development of Tanzania. L ake Natron is located in northern Tanzania on the border with Kenya, near the Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. 16. Er liegt gemeinsam mit dem Magadisee im Magadi-Natron-Becken (2° S, 36° O), etwa 120 km südwestlich von Nairobi, zwischen dem Victoriasee und dem Kilimandscharo. Located close to the Kenyan border, Lake Natron is fed by some springs that are rich in minerals, making the lake highly alkaline, reaching a pH of 9 … 28. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter. The lake is 600 meters high and is at its deepest point a maximum of three meters deep. The area around the salt lake is not inhabited but there is some herding and some seasonal cultivation. Located in Tanzania, Lake Natron is a soda lake or a salt lake that can be found in Arusha Region. Halophiles are micro-organisms that thrive in salty conditions and use photosynthesis for making food. The alkalinity of the lake can reach a pH of more than 12. 21. The surrounding bedrock is composed of alkaline, sodium-dominated trachyte lavas that were laid down during the Pleistocene period. Facts About Lake Natron It is true that this lake is extremely hostile to animals, given its temperature and high pH level. Such halophile organisms include some cyanobacteria that make their own food with photosynthesis as plants do. March 6, 2017. The alkaline water in Lake Natron has a pH as high as 10.5 and is so caustic it can burn the skin and eyes of animals that aren't adapted to it. +9 Dragon’s triangle or The Devil’s sea, one of the famous vile vortices, The actual area encompasses a triangular line from western Japan north of Tokyo, to Guam to Taiwan. Lake Natron was designated a Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention in 2001 according to Article 2 of the Ramsar Convention. 17. 12. 2. Lake Natron, in Africa’s Great Rift Valley, practically sends a warning with its color. 75% of the world’s flamingos come from Lake Natron. This lake is a highly alkaline body of water that takes up a hollow in the Rift Valley, it looks like a deserted and desolate Martian landscape. Most abundant halophile microbe at Lake Natron is the cyanobacteria. The Lake Natron is quite shallow just 9.8 feet deep, 57 KM long, and 22 KM wide. 9. In fact, approximately 75% of the world’s lesser flamingos are born at Lake Natron. The pilot suffered a broken leg and another passenger had a broken hip. The average temperature of the lake is 40˚C or 104˚F but occasionally, its temperature peaks at 60˚C. Although development plans include construction of a dike at the north end of the lake to contain the freshwater, the threat of dilution to this breeding ground may still be serious. These dead animals included birds and bats. Thus, these birds can just become extinct in East Africa. The lake is also fed by hot mineral-laden springs that bubble up on the periphery of the lake. And deposits of sodium carbonate which was once used in Egyptian mummification also acts as a fantastic type of preservative for those animals unlucky enough to die in the waters of Lake Natron. 5. [1] The surrounding area receives irregular seasonal rainfall, mainly between December and May totalling 800 millimetres (31 in) per year. 24. This bright red lake is the World’s most caustic lake and supports over 2.5 million flamingoes. Lake Natron has immense tourist attraction potentials that are important for ecotourism development. The lake is also the World Wildlife Fund East African halophytics ecoregion. Have you ever heard of Medusa? Lake Natron is home to large colonies of pink flamingos which nest on its shores, laying their eggs in the muddy shallows. 22. The lake is the only regular breeding area in East Africa for the 2.5 million lesser flamingoes, whose status of "near threatened" results from their dependence on this one location. Für die rosarote Färbung des Sees,die nur … What did Brandt capture in his camera that makes this lake even spookier than what it already is? These flamingoes, the single large flock in East Africa, gather along nearby saline lakes to feed on Spirulina (a blue-green algae with red pigments). The Lake Flats around the water’s edge contain small lakes, streams and hills providing a variety of hospitable environments for birds that thrive in the alkali oasis. Because of the extreme salinity of the lake, many media reports surfaced which stated that any animal that comes in contact with the water gets turned into stone immediately. The ghastly Lake Natron, in northern Tanzania, is a salt lake—meaning that water flows in, but doesn’t flow out, so it can only escape by evaporation. Simply put, it will be a mayhem on Lake Natron’s biodiversity, specially the lesser flamingoes in East Africa because that lake is their only nesting ground. Located in a dry climate, the area has scanty to no rainfall throughout the year and is only watered by few rivers and hot springs. Located in Tanzania, Lake Natron is a soda lake or a salt lake that can be found in Arusha Region. Everything that nature has to offer is dramatic in some sense or the other but at times all it takes a good photographer to add the extra dash of drama that keeps resonating in our brains. Lake Natron is home to only 3 species of microorganisms, as well as the birthplace of 75% of flamingos living on Earth. The two endemic or native fish species that live in Lake Natron are A. ndalalani and Alcolapia latilabris. There is no formal protection. This has allowed the lake to concentrate into a caustic alkaline brine.[3]. In addition, there is a possibility the developers may introduce a hybrid brine shrimp to increase the efficiency of extraction. The group working under the umbrella name Lake Natron Consultative Group is being co-ordinated by Ken Mwathe, Conservation Programme Manager at BirdLife International's Africa Secretariat. The lake is 35 miles (56 km) long and 15 miles (24 km) wide and contains salt, soda, and magnesite deposits. Lake Natron is a safe breeding location because its caustic environment is a barrier against predators trying to reach their nests on seasonally forming evaporite islands. The story of Lake Natron falls in this category. March 6, 2017JPEG. As per communication on June 2008, Tata Chemicals shall not proceed with the Natron Project and further re-examination of this project will be subject to the Ramsar Wetlands plan, which is currently under preparation.[6]. This bacterium has a red pigment that it uses for photosynthesis. Lake Natron is one of alkaline lakes in that area of East Africa; the other one is Lake Bahi. Lake Natron is known to be one of the most saline caustic alkaline lakes in the world. It is a dead-end lake which means that the lake doesn’t drain into any river or sea. Whilst Lake Natron is not aquatically diverse, is has some very ecologically dependant species. As the fresh water vaporizes, what remains is water with high concentrations of salt minerals. This bright red lake is the world’s most caustic body of water, but not to everything. 14. The area is also known as the Pacific Bermuda Triangle, denoting its position that is precisely opposite to the Bermuda Triangle. (In fact, they used to harvest it from dry lake beds — Lake Natron isn't the only lake in Africa that's home to large quantities of naturally occurring natron.) However, the red-pink salty lake is home to more than 2 million flamingos. The alkalinity of the lake can reach a pH of greater than 12. [1], High levels of evaporation have left behind natron (sodium carbonate decahydrate) and trona (sodium sesquicarbonate dihydrate). 29. Most species cannot handle the 120-degree water body. Er verfügt nur über wenige Zuflüsse und keinen einzigen Abfluss. 8. We use cookies to improve user experience and serve interest-based ads through our advertisement partner. The color of the lake is characteristic of those where very high evaporation rates occur. Two endemic fish species, the alkaline tilapias Alcolapia latilabris and A. ndalalani, also thrive in the waters at the edges of the hot spring inlets. Lake Natron is a salt or soda lake in Arusha Region in Tanzania. The lake is extremely salty. As water evaporates during the dry season, salinity levels increase to the point that salt-loving microorganisms begin to thrive. According to Chris Magin, the RSPB's international officer for Africa, "The chance of the lesser flamingoes continuing to breed in the face of such mayhem are next to zero. The alkalinity of the lake stays at an average level of 10.5 but there are times when the pH levels can reach as high as 12. Lake Natron, Tanzania. 13. This shallow lake is also fed by hot springs that are rich in minerals. And so, too, is the most northerly landmark in the Tanzanian Rift Valley, the low-lying Lake Natron, a shallow sliver of exceptionally alkaline water that extends southward from the Kenyan border near Mount Shompole for 58km. [7], "Medusa Lake" redirects here. The lake’s warm water is an ideal breeding ground for the Rift Valley flamingos. The plant is supposed to extract sodium carbonate from the lake so that it can be converted to washing powder and exported. From a distance, the thousands, even hundreds of thousands of flamingoes create the illusion of a pink lake. The plant would pump water from the lake and extract the sodium carbonate to convert to washing powder for export. For “sunset children” this is an ideal place – because of the increased salt balance, predators and other birds try not to get close to the lake. When we say shallow, we mean pretty shallow. Yet another threat is from the proposed soda ash plant (a joint venture between National Development Corporation of Tanzania and Tata Chemicals Ltd of Mumbai, India) supposed to the set up on the shores of this lake. 20 Hilarious and Weird Laws Around the World – Part I. Leave a Reply Cancel reply. In this hot climate, their water temperatures generally reach to 106 degrees Fahrenheit (41 degrees Celsius). The lava has low levels of magnesium and calcium and high levels of carbonate which makes the lake water a concentrated caustic alkaline brine. The red accessory photosynthesizing pigment in the cyanobacteria produces the deep reds of the open water of the lake and the orange colors of the shallow parts of the lake. This volcanic by-product is rich in sodium and potassium carbonate, which seeps into the lake and contributes to the water’s pH level. You may also like: Deepest Part of the Ocean: Mariana Trench. Ethiopia’s Danakil Desert is one such spot; the volcanic Virunga Range in the Albertine Rift is another. An endemic species of fish, the alkaline tilapia, lives along the edges of the hotspring inlets, and the lake actually derives its color from salt-loving microorganisms that thrive in its alkaline waters. This remote area is also home to a large Maasai community. 2. Lake Natron covers an area of 85,000ha, the lake basin is approximately 65 km long although on average only 20% of this is ever covered by water. Brandt noticed that the dead animals had chalky deposits of sodium carbonate outlined on their bodies that created a sharp relief. Mother Nature has numerous surprises in store for us. The evaporite islands that form seasonally are the most preferred nesting grounds for these birds. But you don’t need to visit the lake in person to see its stunning, seasonal color. Lake Natron is primarily fed by the southern Ewaso Nyiro River, as well as hot mineral springs. The sacred mountain of the Masai, Ol Doinyo Lengai, dominates the horizon at the lake area. All he did was to grab those dead animals and put them in lifelike position to photograph them. Threats to the salinity balance from increased siltation influxes will come from more projected logging in Natron watersheds and a planned hydroelectric power plant on the Ewaso Ng'iro across the border in Kenya. The current global population is approximately 2-3 million birds. Lake Natron, located in Tanzania, Africa is one of the most beautiful lakes Tanzania has to offer, with serene views and a calm quiet you won’t find many places on this earth. Der Natronsee ist ein See im östlichen Arm des Ostafrikanischen Grabens. The Natron Lake is one of the most inhospitable places on Earth, it is located in Northern Tanzania, on the border with Kenya. FACT: Lake Natron in Monduli, Tanzania is one of the most inhospitable areas on Earth due to its saline environment. So, what’s the big deal with this lake? The lake is mostly inhospitable to life, except for a few species adapted to its warm, salty, and alkaline water. This mineral deposit makes its way into the lake via Ol Doinyo Lengai, a nearby volcano and the sole active producer of natrocarbonatite lava. Lake Natron is a salt and soda lake in the Arusha Region of Northern Tanzania, close to Kenyan Border in Gregory Rift. Salt marshes and freshwater wetlands around the edges of the lake do support a variety of plants. A group of wildlife videographers plunged into Lake Natron’s toxicity when their helicopter crashed. This is definitely not true because the lake has a thriving ecosystem. Despite its shallow depth, the lake is quite big in length and breadth. The lake is fed by a combination of hot springs rich in minerals, and by a tributary of the Ewaso Ngiro River. This beautiful lake holds a deadly secret however, and is almost uninhabitable by all living creatures except a few salt dwelling bacteria and small fish. They are aligned point […] Lake Natron is a salt or soda lake in Arusha Region in Tanzania. 156. Both are terminal lakes as both of them do not drain out to any river or sea; they are fed by hot springs and little rivers. There are a number of campgrounds near the lake, which is also the base for climbing Ol Doinyo Lengai. [2], The lake is fed principally by the Southern Ewaso Ng'iro River, which rises in central Kenya, and by mineral-rich hot springs. Due to evaporation, Lake Natron has a high concentration of sodium (sodium carbonate decahydrate) and trona (sodium sesquicarbonate dihydrate). The maximum depth of the lake is 9.8 feet or 3 meters only. The water level varies depending on its water. 26. 6. © 2021 | Facts Legend | A Unit of Akṣa Ventures. 10. Both of these are alkaline tilapias. 25. 3. Another fish species known as A. alcalica lives in the lake too but it is not native to the lake. It is a dead-end lake which means that the lake doesn’t drain into any river or sea. A. alcalica is also present in the lake, but is not endemic. ~African FactsHQ A … Lake Natron, is situated in Africa’s Great Rift Valley. Deshalb schwankt dessen Fläche zwischen über 1000 km² am Ende der Regenzeit und wenigen Quadratkilometern gegen Ende der Trockenzeit. They thrive on the cyanobacteria which grow in numbers when the salinity of the lake increases. The biggest tragedy ever in Lake Natron: In 2007, another bird flew strayed into this chemical cocktail. Lake Natron. [1] Temperatures at the lake are frequently above 40 °C (104 °F). 20. But Lake Natron is not a dark pool of death or despair. In the slightly less salty water around its margins, some fish can also survive. However, lack of a general management plan, inadequate funding at the operational level, lack of mechanisms to secure a fair distribution of ecotourism benefits, and poorly developed tourism infrastructural facilities to support diverse segments of tourists were identified as the main challenges associated with the management of ecotourism in the area. Seventy-five percent of the world's lesser flamingoes are born on Lake Natron. 624 Shares Comments Off on 10 Strange Things Found Frozen in the Ice. The lavas have significant amounts of carbonate but very low calcium and magnesium levels. A new threat to Lake Natron is the proposed development of a soda ash plant on its shores. The lake also supports a few other life forms that include some endemic birds, invertebrates and algae. It is certainly harsh, however, the lake is home to many other creatures who can survive in these climatic conditions. 7. This already weird lake was given a whole new creepy image by photographer Nick Brandt who captured some images that can rightly tagged as world’s most phantasmagorical photographs ever! Lake Natron is a closed drainage system and highly alkaline, as freshwater evaporates and leaves high salt concentrations. Zu Füßen des Kegelberges Ol Doinyo Lengai liegt in einer trockenen, staubigen Geröllwüste der seichte, sodahaltige Lake Natron. Greater flamingoes also breed on the mud flats. 18. Not many people venture near the shores of Lake Natron in northern Tanzania. Previous article 10 Most Dangerous Waters You Will Never Want To Swim In; You May Also Like. Accompanying the plant would be housing for over 1000 workers, and a coal-fired power station to provide energy for the plant complex. 11. Nick found a series of dead animals washed up along the shorelines of the lake. Most animals find the lake's high temperature (up to 60 °C [140 °F]) and its high and variable salt content inhospitable. In fact, the water of Lake Natron is so rich in dissolved sodium carbonate that it often feels viscous to touch. Uzonna Anele. The best times to view these amazing birds are either at sunrise or at sunset when the heat isn’t so ferocious. The water is highly saline (ph 10) and most of the Lake an extremely inhospitable environment. Too but it is certainly harsh, however, the lake ’ s Danakil Desert is one alkaline! Thriving ecosystem ; the other one is lake Bahi to grab those dead animals washed up along the of! 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