![]() ![]() This has allowed the lake to concentrate into a caustic alkaline brine. The lavas have significant amounts of carbonate but very low calcium and magnesium levels. The surrounding bedrock is composed of alkaline, sodium-dominated trachyte lavas that were laid down during the Pleistocene period. The alkalinity of the lake can reach a pH of greater than 12. High levels of evaporation have left behind natron ( sodium carbonate decahydrate) and trona (sodium sesquicarbonate dihydrate). Temperatures at the lake are frequently above 40 ☌ (104 ☏). The surrounding area receives irregular seasonal rainfall, mainly between December and May totalling 800 millimetres (31 in) per year. Login to create your guides for Tanzania. The lake is a maximum of 57 kilometres (35 mi) long and 22 kilometres (14 mi) wide. Lake Natron Tented Camp is located at Lake Natron which lies in the northeast of Tanzania in between the Ngorongoro Highlands and Serengeti National Park. It is quite shallow, less than three metres (9.8 ft) deep, and varies in width depending on its water level. You will be rewarded with spectacular views of the lake and the Rift Valley, as well as thousands of flamingoes.The lake is fed principally by the Southern Ewaso Ng'iro River, which rises in central Kenya, and by mineral-rich hot springs. After waking up from your campsite by the lake, explore the Rift Valley with an adventurous day hike. Lake Natron is a terminal soda lake located in the East African Great Rift Valley surrounded by escarpments and volcanic mountains. The peculiar nature of Lake Natron has lured curious travelers to visit the region. It’s best for humans to leave the lake to the flamingoes and observe from the shore. LAKE NATRON LOCATION SKINThe water is so corrosive that it can calcify and preserve animal remains, burn the skin of unadapted animals, and strip the ink off of printed materials. 2.5 million lesser flamingoes rely on this lake, and their dependence on this single location has earned them the status of “near threatened.”Ī lake that is unfit to support most organisms is also highly unsuitable for swimming. The lake’s extreme salinity acts as a protection from predators, enabling the flamingoes to breed without fear of predation. Situated within walking distance are the hominid footprints and Lake Natron where over 1 million flamingoes come to breed, it is also ideally placed as an ending point for our Empakai to Lake Natron Trek as well as a number of other activities andexpeditions combined with northern Tanzania safaris. Surprisingly, Lake Natron is also a sanctuary for lesser flamingoes, who use the lake as their only regular breeding area. Some fish species can survive along the lake’s edge, where the water is less salty and hostile. The lake’s cyanobacteria are responsible for the lake’s red color. The lake essentially sends a message with its bright red color, warning those who cannot tolerate the hostile conditions to stay away.ĭespite its apparent inhospitable conditions, salt-loving organisms that can withstand the lake’s high temperatures thrive in Lake Natron, including endemic algae, invertebrates, and birds. The salt causes the lake to be highly alkaline, sometimes reaching a pH of 12 out of 14! Lake Natron’s temperature can reach up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius), which, combined with the extreme salinity, makes it an inhospitable place for most animals. This 35-mile long and 15-mile wide lake is a salt lake water flows in, but not out, and as the water evaporates, it leaves behind high concentrations of salt and minerals. Lake Natron, one of the most serene lakes in all of Africa, is located in northern Tanzania and nestled in the East African Rift System. If you were thinking of taking a dip in Lake Natron – think again. ![]()
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