Though Lake Natron is known for its dangerous chemical properties, it's actually quite hospitable to some lucky species.
Alex Berger/FlickrAnimals and guides around Lake Natron in Tanzania.
You may remember the eerie black and white photographs of calcified birds that went viral a couple years ago. The poor creatures appeared to have “turned to stone” in the highly caustic waters of Tanzania’s Lake Natron — specifically due to the high amounts of sodium carbonate in the lake.
This mineral deposit makes its way into the lake via Ol Doinyo Lengai, a nearby volcano and the sole active producer of natrocarbonatite lava. This volcanic by-product is rich in sodium and potassium carbonate, which seeps into the lake and contributes to the water’s pH level.
But Lake Natron is not a dark pool of death or despair. In fact, the lake and surrounding area teem with life. The lake is home to the world’s largest population of lesser flamingos and other creatures, such as wildebeest, lions, and zebras — all of whom benefit from the fertile pastures created by volcanic ash.
The Macabre History Of Lake Natron
European Space Agency/FlickrAn aerial view of Lake Natron.
Lake Natron, situated along Tanzania's northern border with Kenya, is tens of thousands of years old, with the surrounding bedrock forming during the Pleistocene epoch, around 2.58 million to 11,700 years ago. It is one of two alkaline lakes in East Africa and takes up an area of 58 square miles.
The lake, measuring at a maximum depth of 10 feet, is fed by the Southern Ewaso Ng'iro River and by mineral-rich hot springs.
The lake's unique chemical composition is primarily due to nearby active volcanoes, such as Mount Oldoinyo Lengai, which emit alkaline lava flows. These lava flows introduce minerals like sodium carbonate into the lake, contributing to its high alkalinity and a pH that can reach as high as 10.5. Its temperature can also reach as high as 106 degrees. Unlike other lakes, the water does not flow into the sea or other waterways. Instead, the water simply evaporates, leaving behind sodium and increasing the water's salinity as a result.
This unique aspect of the lake is what has drawn curious visitors and even inspired a book titled Across the Ravaged Land, a collection of photographs of deceased animals preserved by the chemicals in the lake.
"I unexpectedly found the creatures — all manner of birds and bats — washed up along the shoreline of Lake Natron," Nick Brandt, photographer and author of the book, told Live Science. "No one knows for certain exactly how they die, but...the water has an extremely high soda and salt content, so high that it would strip the ink off my Kodak film boxes within a few seconds."
While the lake is not capable of instantly turning unsuspecting animals to stone, animals that meet their end near the lake are often calcified by the chemicals in the lake.
Many curious observers have also wondered whether humans have been harmed by the lake. While no deaths have ever been reported, it is still a highly dangerous spot.
In 2007, a helicopter full of wildlife photographers crashed into the lake. Luckily no one was killed in the accident, but one of the photographers suffered from burnt eyes and temporary vision blurriness.
"The skids hit the water and we just crashed and smashed into pieces," Australian cameraman Ben Herbertson told the Sydney Morning Herald. "The next thing I knew I was in the lake and the water was burning my eyes. The reason the flamingos breed there is because the conditions are so harsh there are no predators. The water is physically hot."
Locals and officials warn visitors not to swim in the lake. The high salinity content can not only burn and irritate skin and eyes, but also dehydrate someone quickly.
While brief contact with the lake is unlikely to cause serious health issues, prolonged exposure (between five to ten minutes) to the water's harsh chemicals could lead to irreparable tissue damage.
Despite its association with danger and death, Lake Natron is also home to an incredible amount of life.
The Amazing Biodiversity Of Tasmania's Alkaline Lake
Alex Burger/FlickrStorks fly over Lake Natron at sunrise.
Lake Natron is home to a number of species that have adapted to the unique environmental conditions there.
These species have thrived in the environment and even changed it themselves. Most notably, microorganisms that flourish in the salt-rich lake often create byproducts that excrete red and orange pigment in the water, giving Lake Natron an iconic and eerie appearance.
NASA JohnsonAn aerial view of the red pigments of Lake Natron.
Lake Natron is also home to several algae species, particularly spirulina, that feed the area's bird populations.
Amazingly, between 65 and 75 percent of the world's population of lesser flamingos, roughly 2.5 million, are born on Lake Natron — and the lake's alkalinity actually aids in that process. The extreme pH levels keep predators away from the baby flamingo chicks, which hatch on the lake's salt islands.
Richard Mortel/FlickrA group of flamingos gather at Lake Natron.
Additionally, the flamingos that call Lake Natron home are specially equipped to deal with the area's harsh conditions. They have tough scaly skin that protects them against burns and glands that extract salt from the water they consume.
Volcanic carbonate ash also produces lush pastures, which prove to be a fantastic breeding ground for other creatures in the area, including wildebeest. Increasing the radius a little further from the lake and closer to Kenya, it's even easy to find lions, ostriches, gazelles, zebras, and buffalo in these surprisingly fertile environs.
However, threats to this area are on the rise. Since the 2000s, discussions of building a hydroelectric power plant on the Ewaso Nyiro River across the border in Kenya have progressed into formal plans, threatening the dilution of the area.
In 2001, Tanzania named the Lake Natron Basin to the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance, an international treaty that recognizes places of environmental importance across the globe. These efforts have been met with great elation, but environmentalists continuously call for greater protections for Lake Natron and the creatures that call it home.
After learning about Lake Natron, check out Canada's bizarre spotted lake and Nevada's stunning Fly Geyser.
