Lake Natron - home of beautiful birds and a workshop for creating sinister sculptures (13 photos)

Tanzania's Salty Red Wasteland is a breeding ground for endangered flamingos.





But it's also one of the most inhospitable and sinister places on earth.



The lake is dark red due to salt-loving organisms and algae, its temperature reaches hellish values, and its composition is almost as good as ammonia. Although most settlements throughout history were formed around bodies of water - lakes and rivers, the barren landscape around Lake Natron clearly demonstrates the history of a place where no one ever wanted to live.





Africa's Great Rift Valley is known for its ecologically extreme regions, such as Erta Ale and Dallol. The salty environment of Lake Natron is certainly one of them. Water is supposed to give life, but this salty world seems to make life impossible... almost impossible.



While most animal and plant species cannot tolerate the lake's 120-degree waters, cyanobacteria have made Natron their home, turning the lake into its signature red and orange colors. The algae growth has also encouraged the nesting of lesser flamingos. Surprisingly, 2.5 million flamingos call Lake Natron their home, and it is considered one of their few breeding sites, making the lake's conservation an environmental concern.

The Uniqueness of the Lake



The following factors make the lake unique:

High alkalinity. Lake Natron has a pH of about 9–10.5 (for comparison, soap has a pH of about 9–10). This alkaline environment is due to the high content of chemical compounds, such as sodium carbonate, which is formed from volcanic rocks in the region. The environment is harmful to most living creatures, but some organisms, such as cyanobacteria, thrive here, coloring the lake in red and pink tones.

"Stone" birds. One of the most famous features of the lake is associated with the fate of birds and other animals that accidentally fall into its waters. The high salt and alkali content can preserve the bodies of dead animals, literally turning them into statues. Photographer Nick Brandt captured these eerie yet mesmerizing images that have become the lake’s signature.

Pink Flamingos. Despite the harsh conditions, the lake is an important breeding ground for pink flamingos. These birds find a safe environment here, as predators avoid the dangerous waters of the lake. Flamingos build their nests right in the water, creating one of the most amazing natural scenes on Earth.

A fantastic landscape. Due to the high concentration of salts, the shores of the lake are covered in snow-white crystals, and the body of water itself can change color from red to orange and even green depending on the level of bacteria and algae. This makes it one of the most photogenic and at the same time scary places on the planet.



Lake Natron is a place where nature shows off its power and beauty. It reminds us that even in the most inhospitable places on Earth, unique life forms and incredible landscapes worthy of works of science fiction can be found.







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