The deadly beauty of Lake Natron in Africa. Lake Natron - deadly swimming in Tanzania Where is Lake Natron located

On the territory of Tanzania there is a reservoir containing substances that contribute to the petrification of creatures that died near it. The lake is located in one of the most active volcanic zones on the planet, constantly in motion - in the Great Rift Rift area north of the Empakai crater.

The rich blood-red hue of the lake, formed by the microorganisms living in it, is an elusive warning for all living things invading its domain. Closer to the shores, the water becomes bright orange, since the concentration of bacteria there is much lower. There are also rare places where the water is still its natural color.

The evaporation of the lake scares away large predators, so it serves as a refuge for many small animals and a huge number of birds. Here they live, reproduce and die, but after death their bodies do not decompose, but are mummified.

The consequences of a rare chemical phenomenon in Lake Natron were depicted by photographer and writer Nick Brandt in his book “Across the Tormented Land.” To clearly demonstrate his vision of what was happening, the author decided to take photographs of the victims of the anomalous reservoir found on its banks. All the creatures were located in positions natural to their past life, which made his works even more terrifying, and the gray tones of the photographs seemed to emphasize the transience of existence.

According to Nick, the pH value of water, ranging from 9 to 10.5, and the increased level of alkalinity contribute to the excessive release of soda, salt and lime. This is what produces the petrification effect.

African shamans from the Maasai tribe call Lake Natron a canvas that was created by the gods who live in the sacred volcano Ol Donyo Lengai, at the foot of which the reservoir is located. The name of the volcano translated from their language sounds like “Mountain of Spirits”. When local tribes heard that people were thinking of building a salt processing plant here, they said that strangers should not provoke the gods, so as not to incur their wrath.

You can see more photos of this place in ours.

Video - Deadly Lake Natron

Lake Natron is one of Tanzania's most famous natural attractions. It is famous for the fact that the water in the lake is bright red, and the birds that once flew over this place turn into salty stones. The existence of an unusual body of water became known to the general public relatively recently: several years ago, photographs of Lake Natron in Tanzania were published in a British magazine.

General information

Natron is the saltiest and most alkaline body of water not only in East Africa, but also in the world, and the characteristic muddy red color is just a thick crust of salt that covers the lake. Due to global environmental changes that are currently occurring in the world, in the near future there is a great threat that the salt balance in Natron, unique in composition, may be upset. And this can lead to the extinction of unique microorganisms living in the reservoir.

The lake is located near the Tanzania-Kenya border and covers an area of just under 1040 sq.m. It reaches no more than 57 km in length and about 21 km in width. In the warmest months, the water temperature in the reservoir can exceed 50-60 °C. The average depth of Natron is 1.5 meters, and in the deepest places - 3 meters. A tributary of the lake is the Ewaso Ngiro River, which originates in northern Kenya.

Flora and fauna

Lake Natron is home to only 3 species of microorganisms, and is also the birthplace of 75% of the flamingos living on Earth. This is an ideal place for “children of the sunset” - due to the increased salt balance, predators and other birds try to stay away from the lake. By the way, in order to see flamingos in Tanzania, it is better to fly to Natron in the summer - this is the breeding season for birds.

Only one species of fish can live in the lake - alkaline telapia. Over many millennia, they have adapted to harsh and dangerous conditions, and today Natron is the only place in the world where this species lives.

Due to its unique biodiversity, the lake was included in the list of unique places following the Ramsar Convention and is included in the East African World Wildlife Fund.

Today, scientists around the world are opposed to the construction of a plant for the production and extraction of potash (later used to make washing powder) near the lake - such an unfavorable neighborhood could have a bad effect on the balance of salt in the reservoir and on the inevitable extinction of small flamingos in Africa. However, the indigenous people of Tanzania have a different truth: the factory could provide housing and work for more than 1,000 people.

By the way, the only people who live in these places are representatives of the ancient Salei tribe. They consider the lake a manifestation of divine power, and all their lives they wander along the shores of the salty reservoir.

Thus, even though the construction of the plant was suspended, there is still a threat of disappearance of the salty part of the lake. This could happen due to increased inflows and the possible construction of a new hydroelectric power station on Lake Ewaso Ng'iro.

Lake phenomenon

For many scientists, Natron in Tanzania is still a mystery. And if everything is clear with color (due to the high amount of salts, a red-pink crust is formed), then not everyone can explain another phenomenon (Lake Natron turns animals into stones).

The bird cemetery became known thanks to nature photographer Nick Brandt, who first published photographs of frozen birds in his magazine “Across the Ruined Land.” At first he was accused of being a staged photo shoot, but after some time, researchers nevertheless confirmed the veracity of these photos. After this, photos of Lake Natron began to spread quickly, and Tanzania became quite a popular tourist destination.

Many scientists explain the phenomenon of stone birds near Lake Natron in Tanzania as follows: due to the fact that the water temperature in some places reaches more than 60 ° C, and the water is very salty and alkaline, the birds entering the lake do not decompose, but freeze forever .

The only thing that biologists have not yet found an explanation for is why birds fly into the water. The most popular version: due to increased light reflectivity, birds lose orientation and, mistaking the water for the sky, fly downwards at full speed. Although there are other opinions: for example, some researchers believe that all the birds died a natural death, and were covered with salt afterward. However, photographer Nick Brandt, who has visited these places more than once, refutes this assumption.

But be that as it may, killer Lake Natron is also dangerous for people: you should not only swim here, but even touch the water, because you can simply get burned. In addition, it is not completely known what effect hot alkaline water can have on the human body - scientists are not yet in a hurry with experiments and conclusions.

Depending on the season, Lake Natron can look different: in the summer it dries up, and the ground where there used to be water is covered with huge cracks with salt. Seasonal rainfall in this part of Tanzania begins in August–September and lasts until December. The color of the water changes depending on the bacteria that are active in certain months of the year.

How to get to the lake from Arusha

Arusha

The nearest city in Tanzania is Arusha, 240 km from the lake. You can get from here to this unique attraction by local bus, which will take four and a half hours. There are no trains in these parts at all, just as there are no separate excursions to the lake. However, you can purchase a tour to the Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano, which also includes a visit to Natron. There are many campsites at the base of the volcano.

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You can get to Arusha from: Nairobi in Kenya (4 hours), Dodoma (6 hours) in Tanzania and Dar es Salaam (9 hours on the way). The nearest airport is 50 km from Arusha.

Getting to Arusha and beyond is quite difficult and expensive, and this must be taken into account when planning your trip. But, as many tourists say, Lake Natron is so unique and unusual that it is definitely worth the money and effort spent.

Lake Natron phenomenon

Lake Natron is very shallow (its depth ranges from 1.5 to 3 m), so it warms up to 50 and even 60°C. The content of sodium salts in the waters of the lake is so high that a film forms on its surface, and in the hottest months (February and March) even the water becomes viscous because of this. These conditions favor the activity of halophilic cyanobacteria that live in Lake Natron, thanks to the pigment of which the water has a blood-red color. However, the shade of the water changes depending on the time of year and depth - the lake can be orange or pinkish, and sometimes looks like an ordinary body of water.

But the most interesting and exciting fact is that the waters of Natron pose a real danger. Due to the high level of alkali, salt-saturated water causes severe burns if a person, animal or bird dives into the lake. It was here that many birds found their death. Subsequently, their bodies harden and mummify, becoming covered with minerals. Photographer Nick Brandt found many such bird remains here while collecting material for his book “Across the Tormented Land.” His photographs, which made this body of water famous throughout the world, became the basis of a legend that says that Lake Natron turns animals into stone.

Only a few species of animals can live here. For example, in the summer, during the mating season, thousands of small flamingos fly to the lake. They build nests on rocks and even islands of salt, and the ambient temperature allows the birds to breed without problems under the protection of the lake. Random predators do not wander here, scared off by the unpleasant smell emanating from the lake.

As for people, the Salei tribe of the Maasai clan living near the lake are real aborigines. They have lived here for many hundreds of years, militantly guarding their territory, which they use as pastures. By the way, in this area the remains of Homo Sapiens were found, lying in the ground for more than 30 thousand years. Apparently, it is not for nothing that the African continent is considered the birthplace of man.

How to get to Lake Natron in Tanzania?

There are no separate trips to Lake Natron. There are two ways to get to this unique place: either during a tour to the Oldoinyo Lengai volcano, or on your own by renting an SUV in Arusha. However, keep in mind that an individual visit, firstly, will cost you more, and secondly, it will be very risky without a guide or guide from among the local residents.

Natron is a saline and alkaline lake located in the Arusha region in northern Tanzania, on the border with Kenya. The lake is located in the Gregory Rift, which is the eastern part of the East African Rift. The Lake Natron basin is protected by the international Ramsar Convention. Natron is primarily fed by the Ewaso Ngiro River, which originates in a mineral-rich area in Northern Kenya. The lake is no more than three meters deep and changes its shoreline depending on the time of year and water level. The lake reaches a maximum of 57 km in length and 22 km in width. A seasonal rainfall occurs over the lake in the months of May-December and brings 800 mm of precipitation. Water temperatures in wetlands can reach 50 degrees Celsius, and depending on the water level, alkalinity can reach a pH of 9 to 10.5.

Information

A country: Tanzania
Height above sea level: 800 m
Length: 57 km
Width: 22 km
Greatest depth: 3m
Average depth: 1.5 m
Type of mineralization: Solonchakovy
Flowing river: Ewaso-Ngiro

Flora and fauna

Lake Natron is covered with a crust of salt, which periodically turns red and pink. This is the result of the vital activity of microorganisms that live in the lake. The lake is home to millions of flamingos. Natron is the only breeding site for the lesser flamingo. The lake is home to two endemic species of alkaline telapia - Alcolapia latilabris and Alcolapia ndalalani. The species Alcolapia alcalica is also present in the lake, but it is not endemic. Nevertheless, the high alkalinity and temperature of Lake Natron create such conditions that many animals, mainly birds, accidentally falling into the water die and their remains harden and become covered with minerals. Only a few species of animals can live here. And small flamingos are thus even protected from predators.

Ecology

Threats to the salinity balance may be posed by increased siltation of tributaries of the Lake Natron watershed and the planned hydroelectric power station on Lake Ewaso Ngiro. Although development plans include building a dam at the northern end of the lake to contain fresh water, the threat of dissolution of the salty part of the lake still remains serious. So far there is no formal protection for the salty part of the lake.
A new threat to Lake Natron is the proposed development of a potash plant on its shores. The plant would pump water from the lake and extract the potassium carbonate to convert it into laundry detergent. Construction of the plant would provide housing for more than 1,000 workers at the plant and a coal-fired power plant, providing energy to the plant complex. Additionally, developers can use hybrid brine shrimp to increase extraction efficiency.
According to Chris Magin, RSPB Africa officer, "The chances of the lesser flamingo continuing to breed in the face of such destruction are slim to none. This development could lead to the extinction of the lesser flamingo in East Africa." Currently, a group of fifty East African environmentalists is leading an international campaign to stop the planned construction of a potash plant by Tata Chemicals Ltd (India) and the National Construction Corporation of Tanzania.

In June 2008, Tata Chemicals refused to resume construction of the plant due to the Ramsar Convention.
Due to its unique biodiversity, the Lake Natron Basin was accepted into the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance on 4 July 2001. The lake is also included in the WWF East Africa Region.

Source. wikipedia.org

And in places. There is a list that includes the seven oldest wonders of the world. In fact, there are many more of them. Some have become real attractions and attract masses of tourists all year round. Others are located in inaccessible areas, and few are lucky enough to observe them. Most of them are beautiful, but there are also those that are simply shocking with their strange beauty. The latter includes the phenomenon of Lake Natron.

Features of Lake Natron

Lake Natron is the most alkaline body of water on planet Earth. It is located in the northern part of Tanzania, near the border with neighboring Kenya. The reservoir received its name not by chance, but from the mineral of the same name, which this area is rich in. There is another version. It’s as if the lake got its name because of its color, which means “red.” The reservoir is fed from hot mineral springs and the Iwaso Nyiro River.

Natron has a relatively shallow depth - less than three meters. It depends on the season and is constantly changing. In summer, the lake is much shallower due to strong evaporation. It is at this time that the concentration of salt in the water increases, and the surface of the reservoir becomes covered with a thin crust. Mineral salts get here along with the ash of a volcano located in the East African Rift Valley.

Uniqueness of the area

The lake itself is a very mysterious and unique phenomenon. Natron is part of the same one, which has been around for over a million years. It appeared here thanks to Even now, this volcanic zone is considered one of the most active in the world. The volcano closest to the lake is called Lengai. Local residents claim that he woke up in 2008. This is not known for sure, but the fact that he still does not sleep is a fact. The last time an eruption was observed was in 2010.

The surrounding area of the lake is also rich in archaeological surprises. Excavations were once carried out here, during which they found the remains of Homo Sapiens, which had lain in the ground for more than thirty thousand years. Researchers claim that previously hominids lived along the shores of the lake, which, according to some versions, were the ancestors of modern humans. Nowadays, the Salei tribe lives here. These are representatives of the Maasai clan, they are engaged in cattle breeding, thanks to which they exist.

Killer beauty

The phenomenon known as the Lake Natron phenomenon is an eerie sight. There you can see petrified statues of birds and even some animals. And these are not man-made sculptures of sculptors, but real birds that have fallen into a deadly trap. Once in the lake, they die almost instantly, and their bodies become covered with minerals, turning into these creepy statues, like pictures from horror films.

The phenomenon of Lake Natron has a scientific explanation. The thing is that the alkalinity of its water is approximately 9-10.5 pH at water temperatures up to 60°C. This is what causes the death of the fauna that end up here. Despite the deadly phenomenon of Lake Natron in Tanzania, several species of inhabitants have somehow managed to take root in it. Among them are unique fish for which the alkaline environment is completely harmless. It’s not for nothing that they are called alkaline telapia.

The ability to kill and turn birds into mineral statues is the most unique and shocking phenomenon of Lake Natron. Photos of these natural statues were first taken by photographer Nick Brandt. He accidentally discovered them during his trip to Africa. His photographs became part of the report. The frozen birds seem alive from a distance, but in fact, having touched the deadly water, they have long since turned to stone. Many who saw these creepy sculptures compared the lake with the mythical one that leads to the kingdom of the dead.

Flamingo Abode

But the Lake Natron phenomenon is not limited to dead sculptures. A lot of small flamingos live here. This is a rather rare species, but Lake Natron is one of the places of their mass accumulation and reproduction. The most beautiful birds are under reliable protection of the waters of the lake, since they build their nests on hillocks of salt located in the middle of the water. It is dangerous for the chicks, who may accidentally fall out of the nest, and it is no less dangerous for predators to get to them.

In 1962, there was a major flood, as a result of which the flamingo population suffered significantly. According to researchers, more than a million eggs were destroyed then. However, visiting these regions now, you can observe about two million flamingos at the same time.

Bloody water

The alkalinity in the lake tends to increase due to evaporation. Due to this, some bacteria are activated. Due to their vital activity, the water in the lake turns red from time to time. This type of bacteria includes cyanobacteria. It is able to absorb light during photosynthesis and produce a bright red pigment. This ability gives the water an appropriate tint.

“Bloody water” is another phenomenon of Lake Natron. Indeed, the lake is stunning not only with stone sculptures of birds. True, there is an assumption that in fact the water does not kill the birds, they died a natural death. The fumes simply coated their remains with salt and mineral deposits, causing them to fossilize. And the photographer, who became famous himself and made Lake Natron famous, simply found them on the shore, planted them on branches as if they were alive, in order to give the effect of instant death from touching the water surface. Lake Natron in Tanzania is an incredibly beautiful area with magnificent landscapes, which has no analogues in the world.

The deadly beauty of Lake Natron in Africa. Lake Natron - deadly swimming in Tanzania Where is Lake Natron located