Nonetheless, flamingos are still at high risk staying amidst Lake Natron’s fatal waters. If Lake Natron, in Africas Great Rift Valley had a color theme, it would be pink. They only come around seasonally, when salt sediments accumulate all over the lake creating islands on which the birds can safely nest. These pink flamingos live on the abundant supply of cyanobacteria, and the lake’s isolated location and toxicity to predators make it the perfect place for them to build their nests. However, this deadly lake is the only place in Eastern Africa where three quarters of the world’s Lesser Flamingo population breeds. 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. Unlike those other lakes, though, Lake Natron is extremely alkaline, due to high amounts of the chemical natron (a mix of sodium carbonate and baking soda) in the water. You probably would have to drive towards Loliondo, then get through the small villages, Samunge, maybe Ghabere, and come back. Halfway up the lake, there is the highest and also the closest point to the lake, Ol Doinyo Sambu (2☀7’42.8S 35★5’52.6E). The only creatures that survive in its depths are the alkaline tilapia (Alcolapia latilabris) and cyanobacteria (Spirulina), which gives its pinkish red pigmentation. The alkalinity of the lake can reach a pH of greater than 12. Drive and trek: organize a trip to the top of the Rift Valley, west of Lake Natron. The volcanic sediments in the lake originate from the nearby Great Rift Valley, and water temperature reaches up to 60 degrees Celsius. With an alkalinity between pH 9 and pH 10, the waters of Lake Natron is highly corrosive. The calcified stone corpses of its victims washed out by the lakefront are a horrific thing to behold. lake can rise to 140 F (60 C) and the alkalinity is between pH 9 and pH. Its lethal waters are only 3 meters deep, but it’s capable of eating out the life of any warm-blooded thing that immerses itself in its depths. Lake Natron in northern Tanzania is one of the harshest environments on Earth. Amazingly, 2.5 million flamingos make Lake Natron their home and it is considered one of their only breeding grounds, making preservation of the lake an environmental concern.
No right-minded animal would dare step into Lake Natron of Tanzania.
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