As isolated as the lake is (it wasn't even discovered by Europeans until 1954), there are no protections in place for the lake or its threatened flamingo population.įollow Marc Lallanilla on Twitter and Google+. The serenity of Lake Natron - and its flamingo population - are threatened by a proposed hydroelectric power plant on the Ewaso Ngiro River, the main river feeding the lake.

As shallow lakes in a hot climate, their water temperatures can reach as high as 106 degrees Fahrenheit (41 degrees Celsius). 1 1.What If You Jumped Into Lake Natron The What If Show 2 2.Lake Natron: Tanzania’s beautiful and deadly red lake 3 3.Lake Natron: The truth about the red lake of Tanzania NewsBytes 4 4.Lake Natron: Deadly to Most Life, but the Flamingos Love It 5 5.What Would Happen If You Jumped Into Lake Natron You Won’t 6 6. Both are terminal lakes that do not drain out to any river or sea they are fed by hot springs and small rivers. Lake Natron is one of two alkaline lakes in that area of East Africa the other is Lake Bahi. Lake Natron is a salt lake located in northern Tanzania, close to the Kenyan border, in the eastern branch of the East African Rift. The flamingos' nests are built on small islands that form in the lake during the dry season. With the PH as high as 10.5, Lake Natron is one of two alkaline lakes in the area of East Africa the other is Lake Bahi and is probably the worlds most. See the area during a safari in Serengeti National Park or Great Rift Valley.During breeding season, more than 2 million lesser flamingos ( Phoenicopterus minor) use the shallow lake as their primary breeding ground in Africa. It is a highly alkaline lake that occupies a depression created by the Rift Valley, a. However, during the wet season (November to May) the afternoon thundershowers are often expected. Lake Natron is fifty kilometres in length and about twenty-five in width. See this unique lake and the Natron area, which provides spectacular sites: from flats to escarpments, to volcanoes.Īnytime – the weather is always warm. It is a safe breeding place for these birds, since no predators come to this unfriendly terrain. Surprisingly, this lake is a habitat for flamingos, that nest here and feed on red algae despite the alkaline water. The color varies from orange to red, to pink and is produced by the bacterias and other microorganisms. A very shallow salt lake is very dangerous for those, who are not adjusted: the temperature can reach 60✬ and its ph level is 10! However, its rare red color makes Lake Natron a very unique and beautiful destination, which can be compared only to Laguna Colorada found in Bolivia.

Where is lake natron