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Deadly Lake Natron: Tanzania’s Lake Natron is famous for its red glow and mysterious nature. The water of this lake is so alkaline that it turns animals to stone. But this lake is also home to thousands of flamingo birds. This place is such a paradox, where death and life both live together.
Lake Natron, located near the Kenya border in Tanzania, Africa, is as beautiful as it is scary. This lake is famous all over the world for its blood-red shimmer and its effect of turning animals into stone. The water here is so alkaline and hot that most animals cannot survive here.
The temperature of Lake Natron sometimes goes above 60 degrees Celsius. The lake is rich in volcanic minerals and sodium carbonate, making it highly alkaline. Despite these circumstances, this lake is such a miracle that it is the home of both life and death.
Microorganisms – especially cyanobacteria – are behind the red, pink and orange colors of the lake. These organisms thrive in highly salty water and release their colorful pigments, making the lake water look like blood. When the water level decreases, a layer of red-pink salt forms on the surface which makes it more mysterious.
The water of Lake Natron is so alkaline that birds or small animals who accidentally fall into it burn their skin and dry up like mummies. For this reason it is called “deadly lake”. Although the lake does not turn one into stone immediately, but in the long run it calcifies the body.
Ironically, this deadly lake is the only major breeding ground for the ‘Lesser Flamingo’ birds of East Africa. Every year millions of flamingos lay eggs and raise babies here. Spirulina, which grows in the salt water of the lake, is their main diet, which gives them their pink color.
Ol Doinyo Lengai, located near Lake Natron, is the world’s only carbonatite volcano. When its minerals dissolve in the lake, sodium carbonate and other elements get added to the water. Due to this it becomes highly alkaline. This is why both the temperature and chemical composition of the lake are extremely unusual.
The ecosystem of Lake Natron is extremely delicate. Here, schemes like soda ash mining and dam projects can disturb this balance. If water flow or salinity changes, the existence of flamingos and other creatures will be in danger. Besides, climate change is also affecting the future of this lake.
The area of Lake Natron seems like another planet. The surrounding volcanic mountains, salt sheets and deserted plains make it a unique mystery. It is difficult to reach here but for those who come, it becomes an experience of a lifetime, a place where death and life both exist together.
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