![]() Lake Natron water has an extremely high pH level as high as 10.5 and could reach a pH of greater than 12.These carotenoids are found in microscopic red algae present in the lake that brine shrimp eat.Īs the flamingos feast on the abundant resource of red algae and shrimp their feathers turn pink as a result of metabolism. A lot of plants produce natural pigments called carotenoids. You might have heard the term “you are what you eat” that is exactly the case with flamingos. If needed they can also filter water salt from the lake water with the help of special glands present in their head and drain it out from their nasal cavity. These flamingos have a tough and scaly skin which prevents their feets from the bruning effect of the super-alkaline water, they can drink hot water from the nearby geysers. It is not by chance that flamingos have chosen this place as their breeding ground, the uninhabitable conditions in and around this lake has made it a perfect place for breeding as there is little to no danger from predators. For a fact, more than 2.5 million lesser Flamingos breed here as a result 75 percent of the world’s population of Flamingos are born at this place. Surprisingly this poisonous lake of death has proved to be a paradise for flamingos. These algae are present in abundance and are an important source of food for the flamingos Lake Natron A Paradise for Flamingos Lake natron gets it’s distinct reddish color from the salt-loving Haloarchaea which are a type of cyanobacteria that creates algae blooms. Sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate salts calcify the bodies of the animals that die inside it. ![]() Since there is no outflow of water and it receives irregular rainfall, the constant evaporation and a rare type of lava rich in sodium and potassium carbonates ran down the slopes of the Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano, has led to concentration of trona (sodium sesquicarbonate dihydrate) and natron (hydrated sodium carbonate) in the water making it very toxic. The pH level is as high as 10.5 which can cause burns to skin and eyes of animals, if that was not enough water temperature generally ranges from 40˚ to 60˚C. Unlike other lakes it has high levels of natron (mixture of sodium carbonate and baking soda) which makes it extremely alkaline in nature. Lake Natron is said to be one of the most dangerous lakes in the world. It is very shallow in depth as it’s deepest point is around 9 to 10 feet only. This lake is roughly 57 km long and 22 km wide, a small portion of the lake also stretches over to Kenya as seen in the image below. Lake Natron is located in the north of Tanzania. The temperatures tend to stay at around 42 degrees Celsius (108 degrees Fahrenheit) all year round, which is much hotter than most bodies of water. It contains lethal amounts of sodium carbonate and ammonia which are typically found in cleaning solutions. ![]() The water has an extremely high pH level as high as 10.5 and could reach a pH of greater than 12. Years of water evaporation and its close proximity to and active volcano has led to a high concentration of minerals and the close by geysers make the lake in hospitable. This alkaline salt-and- soda lake is not like any other place on Earth. Lets know about it’s location and surroundings along with how it was first discovered. The effect it has on animals and birds is purely scientific, but before we dive into the reason for its deadly nature. The first time you hear about it, it might seem like a cursed place or some spell had been cast on it, But trust me nothing of that sort is wrong with lake natron. Lake natron popularly famous as the lake that turns animals to stone, is located in the Northern Tanzania, on the edge of the world-famous Serengeti.
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