Birds turned to stone: the ominous Lake Natron in Tanzania. Lake Natron in Tanzania

24.02.2023

The phenomenon of Lake Natron - beauty and horror wildlife Tanzania

Natron is a saline and alkaline lake located in the Arusha region in northern Tanzania, on the border with Kenya. The lake is located in the Gregory Rift, which is eastern part East African Rift. The Lake Natron basin is protected by the international Ramsar Convention.

Natron is primarily fed by the Ewaso Ngiro River, which originates in a mineral-rich area in Northern Kenya. The lake is no more than three meters deep and changes its shoreline depending on the time of year and water level. The lake reaches a maximum of 57 km in length and 22 km in width. A seasonal rainfall occurs over the lake in the months of May-December and brings 800 mm of precipitation. Water temperatures in wetlands can reach 50 degrees Celsius, and depending on the water level, alkalinity can reach a pH of 9 to 10.5.

Lake Natron in Tanzania: characteristics

The depth of Lake Natron is very small, because in some places it does not even reach 3 meters. The area, on the contrary, is rather large - 1344 km2. Since the air temperature in this area often crosses 50°C, the water in Natrona also warms up to similar levels.

Natron is an integral part of the most active volcanic system today - the Great African Rift. The nearby Oldonyo Lengai volcano showed clear manifestations of seismic activity relatively recently. So, it erupted in October 2008, and a couple of years later it woke up again.

The water in the lake is red, this feature is caused by the activity of microorganisms. Near the shore, the water takes on an orange tint, because... in this place the number of organisms is less. There are areas where the water is clean and clear, but there are not very many such places.

Scientists have tried to explain the phenomenon of the Tanzanian reservoir. They found that the hydrogen index in the local waters (having an average of 10.5) and excess alkaline impurities lead to the formation large quantity soda, minerals and salts, which lead to petrification of animal remains.

Scientists cannot yet say with complete certainty why birds often fall into or within the lake, but there is a theory that the reservoir has strong reflective properties that prevent birds from orienting themselves normally in space.

Flora and fauna

It would seem that neither flora nor fauna could live in such a harsh environment. However, such an aggressive environment turned out to be comfortable for several species of algae, fish and small flamingos. This is their only breeding site in the region, as there are virtually no predators in the area. The toxic environment of the lake has become a kind of invisible barrier for predators, so they avoid the lake. During the evaporation season, islands form on the lake - flamingos build their nests on them and breed their offspring.

The number of flamingos on the lake reaches several million. Among other things, they feed on blue-green algae containing beta-carotene, which gives their feathers a bright pink color.

As beautiful as Lake Natron is, it is also harsh - if an animal falls into the lake, it dies immediately, and its remains harden in natural positions, turning into “mummies”.

Ecology

A new threat to Lake Natron is the proposed development of a potash plant on its shores. The plant would pump water from the lake and extract the potassium carbonate to convert it into laundry detergent. Construction of the plant would provide housing for more than 1,000 workers at the plant and a coal-fired power plant, providing energy to the plant complex. Additionally, developers can use hybrid brine shrimp to increase extraction efficiency.

According to Chris Magin, RSPB Africa officer, “The chances of lesser flamingos continuing to breed in the face of such a devastation are slim to none. This development could lead to the extinction of lesser flamingos in East Africa" Currently, a group of fifty East African environmentalists is leading an international campaign to stop the planned construction of a potash plant by Tata Chemicals Ltd (India) and the National Construction Corporation of Tanzania.

In June 2008, Tata Chemicals refused to resume construction of the plant due to the Ramsar Convention.

Due to its unique biodiversity, the Lake Natron Basin area was included in the list of wetlands of international importance of the Ramsar Convention on July 4, 2001. The lake is also included in World Fund wildlife of the East Africa region.

Pastures of the Salei tribe

The owners of Lake Natron can be called the Salei tribe, belonging to the Masai clan. These people spend their entire lives searching for the best pasture around the shores of the lake. The Maasai are a warlike people, because they have been accustomed to defending their territory since ancient times. Fortunately for tourists, now the inhabitants of Northern Tanzania are much more liberal towards visitors.

Amazing pictures

The mysterious lake in Tanzania attracted the photographer’s attention for a reason: Nick Brandt specializes in black and white photography of wild African animals.

Having visited Natron, the photographer was amazed by the abundance of bird skeletons that can be found in the coastal strip, so there was a need to find an explanation for this phenomenon.

Nick Brandt managed to find several surviving bird “statues”. He installed them in natural poses against the background of water, so in the photographs they look as if they were alive. In the photographs you can see a small flamingo, a dove and an eagle. By the way, Lake Natron is unique precisely because here is the only place where small flamingos breed (although, as we can see, some birds die immediately).

Swimming in Lake Natron is not recommended. Any contact with alkaline water can lead to burns and blistering of the skin - it’s better not to risk it. However, from one glance at the skeletons of animals and birds and their limestone mummies scattered around the lake, it will become clear that it is better not to get close to Natron.

It’s worth planning a few days for a trip to Lake Natron. You can spend the night in campsites located near the natural attraction. It is not necessary to book accommodation in advance.

A trip to Lake Natron can be combined with an ascent to the Oldoinyo Lengai volcano, one of the most active in East Africa. It is located nearby.

How to get there?

The closest city to Lake Natron is Arusha, located 240 kilometers to the southeast. A bus service connects Arusha with the cities of Tanzania - Dodoma (420 kilometers; travel time - 6 hours), Dar es Salaam (640 kilometers; travel time - 9 hours) and others. You can also get to Arusha by bus from Nairobi, the capital of Kenya; the journey takes 4 hours. There are no railway connections in this part of Africa.

Kilimanjaro International Airport is located 50 kilometers east of Arusha. Air service connects the airport with Amsterdam, Istanbul, Frankfurt, Dar es Salaam, Nairobi, the island of Zanzibar, Kigali - the capital of Rwanda, as well as Addis Ababa - the capital of Ethiopia.

There are no organized excursions from Arusha to Lake Natron. Typically, a visit to this natural attraction is included in tours to the Oldoinyo Lengai volcano. Because The best way to get there directly - rent an SUV and hire a guide from one of the travel agencies in Arusha. An individual program will cost more than a standard tour - on average by a third. You should not go to Natron without a local guide.

Sources

https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natron

Lake Natron is a salt lake located in northern Tanzania, near the border with Kenya, and northeast of the Ngorongoro Crater, in the eastern branch of the huge East African rift valley(Great Rift Valley). Nestled between huge volcanic hills and deep craters, Lake Natron lies at the lowest point of the rift valley - 600 meters above sea level, and is most likely the most corrosive body of water in the world.

The lake is fed by the southern branch of the Ewaso Ng'iro River, as well as by hot springs rich in minerals. This lake is very shallow and its depth does not exceed three meters, and its width varies depending on the water level, which varies depending on the due to strong evaporation, as a result of which concentrations of salts and other minerals remain in the lake, in particular sodium carbonate (soda). The climate of the country surrounding the lake is hot, it is often very dry and dusty, which is not very favorable for travel. But those who decide to visit Natron, no matter what, are rewarded with some of the most magnificent scenery you will ever encounter in Tanzania.People who have been there say that even the views that open up during the journey to the lake are worth it. to go there.

Photo taken by George Steinmetz

The lake has a dark red color, characteristic of those lakes where there is a very high rate of evaporation. As water evaporates during the dry season, the concentration of salt in the water will increase to the point where salt-loving microorganisms begin to thrive. Organisms such as halophiles, which include some cyanobacteria, produce their own food through photosynthesis, just as plants do. The red photosynthetic pigment in cyanobacteria is responsible for the deep red color of the lake's water, and the orange color in its shallow waters. The alkaline crust of salt found on the surface of the lake is also often colored red or pink by microorganisms that live there and love salt.

Due to the high temperature (up to 41°C) and the high and very variable salt content in the lake, there is no fauna here. However, the lake is important habitat for flamingos, as well as home to endemic algae, invertebrates and even fish that can survive in slightly less saline water.

In East Africa, this lake is the only regular breeding habitat for 2,500,000 lesser flamingos, whose "near-threatened" status is a result of their dependence on a single breeding site. As salinity increases, so does the number of cyanobacteria, and the lake can support more nests. These flamingos, which live in one large group in East Africa, congregate near the region's salt lakes, where they feed on spirulina (a blue-green algae that produces a red pigment). Lake Natron is safe place breeding because its caustic environment is a barrier to predators trying to reach the flamingo nests built on the islands formed seasonally in the lake due to evaporation.

Natron is a saline and alkaline lake located in the Arusha region in northern Tanzania, on the border with Kenya. The lake is located in the Gregory Rift, which is the eastern part of the East African Rift. The Lake Natron basin is protected by the international Ramsar Convention. Natron is primarily fed by the Ewaso Ngiro River, which originates in a mineral-rich area in Northern Kenya. The lake is no more than three meters deep and changes its shoreline depending on the time of year and water level. The lake reaches a maximum of 57 km in length and 22 km in width. A seasonal rainfall occurs over the lake in the months of May-December and brings 800 mm of precipitation. Water temperatures in wetlands can reach 50 degrees Celsius, and depending on the water level, alkalinity can reach a pH of 9 to 10.5.

Information

A country: Tanzania
Height above sea level: 800 m
Length: 57 km
Width: 22 km
Greatest depth: 3m
Average depth: 1.5 m
Type of mineralization: Solonchakovy
Flowing river: Ewaso-Ngiro

Flora and fauna

Lake Natron is covered with a crust of salt, which periodically turns red and pink. This is the result of the vital activity of microorganisms that live in the lake. The lake is home to millions of flamingos. Natron is the only breeding site for the lesser flamingo. The lake is home to two endemic species of alkaline telapia - Alcolapia latilabris and Alcolapia ndalalani. The species Alcolapia alcalica is also present in the lake, but it is not endemic. Nevertheless, the high alkalinity and temperature of Lake Natron create such conditions that many animals, mainly birds, accidentally falling into the water die and their remains harden and become covered with minerals. Only a few species of animals can live here. And small flamingos are thus even protected from predators.

Ecology

Threats to the salinity balance may be posed by increased siltation of tributaries of the Lake Natron watershed and the planned hydroelectric power station on Lake Ewaso Ngiro. Although development plans include building a dam at the northern end of the lake to contain fresh water, the threat of dissolution of the salty part of the lake still remains serious. So far there is no formal protection for the salty part of the lake.
A new threat to Lake Natron is the proposed development of a potash plant on its shores. The plant would pump water from the lake and extract the potassium carbonate to convert it into laundry detergent. Construction of the plant would provide housing for more than 1,000 workers at the plant and a coal-fired power plant, providing energy to the plant complex. Additionally, developers can use hybrid brine shrimp to increase extraction efficiency.
According to Chris Magin, RSPB Africa officer, "The chances of the lesser flamingo continuing to breed in the face of such destruction are slim to none. This development could lead to the extinction of the lesser flamingo in East Africa." Currently, a group of fifty East African environmentalists is leading an international campaign to stop the planned construction of a potash plant by Tata Chemicals Ltd (India) and the National Construction Corporation of Tanzania.

In June 2008, Tata Chemicals refused to resume construction of the plant due to the Ramsar Convention.
Due to its unique biodiversity, the Lake Natron Basin was accepted into the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance on 4 July 2001. The lake is also included in the WWF East Africa Region.

Source. wikipedia.org

The lifeless landscapes of Lake Natron in northern Tanzania are reminiscent of the surreal alien landscapes. A lake covered with a crust of salt may change color throughout the year. As a result of the vital activity of microorganisms - halophilic cyanobacteria living in Natrona, the water acquires rich reddish and pinkish shades several times a year. When the temperature rises, the bacteria release a red pigment, coloring the lake.

The concentration of salt and alkali in Lake Natron is so strong that animals and birds that accidentally fall into the water die and become mummified. The exception is small flamingos: for these birds, ideal conditions for reproduction. The high water temperature, reaching 50°C in wetlands, allows flamingos to hatch eggs at any time of the year. And the unpleasant smell emanating from the lake scares away predators and prevents them from getting close to the nests.

Another amazing one natural phenomenon can be observed on Lake Natron in February and March. The concentration of sodium carbonate increases so much during the hottest months of the year that the water in the lake becomes viscous.

View from an airplane of Lake Natron // Bildagentur Zoonar GmbH, Shutterstock

Swimming in Lake Natron is not recommended. Any contact with alkaline water can result in burns and blistering of the skin - it is better not to risk it. However, from one glance at the skeletons of animals and birds and their limestone mummies scattered around the lake, it will become clear that it is better not to get close to Natron.

It’s worth planning a few days for a trip to Lake Natron. You can spend the night in campsites located near the natural attraction. It is not necessary to book accommodation in advance. Hotels in Arusha are available.

A trip to Lake Natron can be combined with an ascent to the Oldoinyo Lengai volcano - one of the most active in East Africa. It is located nearby.

How to get there

There are no organized excursions from Arusha to Lake Natron. Typically, a visit to this natural attraction is included in tours to the Oldoinyo Lengai volcano. Therefore, the best way to get there directly is to rent an SUV and hire a guide from one of the Arusha travel agencies. An individual program will cost more than a standard tour - on average by a third. You should not go to Natron without a local guide.

Location

Lake Natron is located in the East African Rift Valley, in the Arusha region, in the north, on the border with.

Lake Natron in Tanzania is one of the most serene yet frightening and incredible lakes in Africa.
It is located at an altitude of 600 meters above sea level in the northern part of Tanzania, almost on the border with Kenya.

general information

Natron is salt Lake with a high alkali content. It is fed by the waters of the South Ewaso N'giro River, which flows in from the north. This river originates in the center of Kenya, in areas rich in mineral springs. Along the periphery of the lake there are hot mineral springs. Precipitation also plays an important role, falling here mainly from December to May and amounting to about 80 cm per year.

Lake Natron has an unusual red-pink color. This is explained by the fact that the water, which brings abundant amounts of minerals into the water area, gradually evaporates, and the minerals remain in the lake basin. In particular, the waters are rich in sodium (also called natron - sodium carbonate decahydrate) and its compounds. Deposits of salts and carbonates are an excellent habitat for some bacteria and microorganisms, which in turn paint the lake in such amazing colors.

By the way, the name of the lake comes from the chemical compound “natron”.

The lake was first discovered by Europeans in 1954.

The depth of Lake Natron is no more than 3 meters. Its size directly depends on the season and, naturally, the volume of water. The maximum dimensions are approximately 57 by 22 kilometers. The ratio of the surface area of the lake to its depth makes this body of water more like a salt marsh.

It is noteworthy that the temperature of Lake Natron is more than 40 o C. In some places even more than 50 o C. The alkalinity of the water (or pH) reaches values of 9 - 10.5. It would seem that nothing and no one could survive in such a chemical reservoir, but there is life here.

Flora and fauna of Lake Natron

Water evaporating during the dry season increases salinity to such an extent that the environment becomes favorable for salt-loving microorganisms. They begin to actively flourish. Cyanobacteria, using the process of photosynthesis in nutrition, are the main producers of the color of Lake Natron. The color of the water can have yellow, orange, pink and red shades, and depends on the season and the number of such microorganisms. The marshy salt and freshwater areas along the edges of the lake are habitat for many plants.

Lake Natron is the only permanent nesting site for lesser flamingos in East Africa. There are about 2.5 million individuals of this graceful bird species. It has been proven that about 75% of all birds of the “lesser flamingo” species appear on the shores of this lake.

In addition to flamingos, you can find about 100,000 other waterfowl here, many of which are migratory. As a rule, birds are common on the shallow shores of the lake. The large number of birds can be explained by the almost complete absence of predators in the lake area.

The only fish found in abundance in the lake is the whitefin or alkaline tilapia of the species Oreochromis alcalicus, which is endemic to the lake. This small fish lives along the edges of hot springs, where the water temperature is between 36 - 40 o C.

white areas on the lake are hot mineral springs

Threats to the lake

Although Lake Natron is a controversial sight, it is a valuable piece of nature and needs to be protected (like our entire planet).

In the early 2000s, significant threats to the lake and its existence emerged. On its banks it was planned to build a powerful chemical plant for the production of soda ash. A project for the construction of a hydroelectric power station in the area was also considered, which involved the construction of a dam in the northern part of the lake.
Both one and the second projects could cause serious damage to the ecosystem of the lake and its abodes. Fortunately, with the active intervention of environmentalists, both projects were abandoned.

Dead photo shoot on Lake Natron

Lake Natron is the source of some of the most fantastic and frightening photographs ever taken on the planet. They look as if the birds instantly froze and turned to stone. The author of these scary but amazing photographs is Nick Brandt.

On the shore of the lake, Brandt discovered the remains of flamingos and other animals with deposits of sodium carbonate, which sharply outlined their bodies. Moreover, there were quite a lot of such mummies. Nick selected some particularly impressive and well-preserved specimens and gave them the shape and attitude of a “living” person. The result was the famously frightening photographs. Here, for example, are these.

Bird mummies found on the shores of the lake

Some newspapers claimed that birds died almost instantly from contact with water, but this is completely untrue. No one can say for sure how these animals died, but most likely it was due to natural causes, and the water is absolutely not to blame. Thanks to its chemical composition, it only became an ideal preservative.

Lake Natron is not the only body of water on the planet with such an unnatural color of water. It wouldn't hurt to read about