Our planet is filled with amazing, and sometimes completely inexplicable phenomena and places. There is a list that includes the seven oldest wonders of the world. In fact, there are many more. Some have become real attractions and attract masses of tourists all year round. Others are located in remote areas, and few were lucky to observe them. Most of them are beautiful, but there are those that simply shock with their strange beauty. The latter include the phenomenon of Lake Natron.
Features of Lake Natron
Lake Natron is the most alkaline body of water on planet Earth. It is located in the northern part of Tanzania, near the border with neighboring Kenya. The reservoir got its name not by chance, but from the mineral of the same name, which this area is rich in. There is another version. As if the lake got its name because of its color, which means “red” in translation. The reservoir is fed from hot mineral springs and the Iwaso Nyiro River.
Natron has a relatively shallow depth - less than three meters. It depends on the season and is constantly changing. Summerthe lake is much smaller due to strong evaporation. It is at this time that the concentration of s alt and sodium carbonate in the water rises, and the surface of the reservoir becomes covered with a thin crust. Mineral s alts come here along with the ash of a volcano located in the East African Rift Valley.
Uniqueness of the area
The lake itself is a very mysterious and unique phenomenon. Natron is part of this same rift valley, which is over a million years old. It appeared here thanks to volcanic eruptions. Even now, this volcanic zone is considered one of the most active in the world. The volcano next to the lake is called Lengai. Locals claim that he woke up in 2008. This is not known for sure, but the fact that he still does not sleep is a fact. The last time an eruption was observed was in 2010.
The surroundings of the lake are also rich in archaeological surprises. Excavations were once carried out here, during which the remains of Homo Sapiens were found, which had lain in the ground for more than thirty thousand years. The researchers claim that earlier hominids lived along the shores of the lake, which, according to some versions, are the ancestors of modern people. Today, the Salei tribe lives here. These are representatives of the Maasai clan, they are engaged in cattle breeding, thanks to which they exist.
Deadly beauty
The phenomenon known as the Lake Natron Phenomenon is an eerie sight. There you can see petrified statues of birds and even some animals. And these are not man-made sculptures of sculptors, but real birds that fell intodeath trap. Once in the lake, they die almost instantly, and their bodies are covered with minerals, turning into these creepy statues, like pictures from horror movies.
The phenomenon of Lake Natron has a scientific explanation. The thing is that the alkalinity of its water is approximately 9–10.5 pH at water temperatures up to 60°C. This is what causes the death of the inhabitants of the fauna that get here. Despite the deadly phenomenon of Lake Natron in Tanzania, several species of inhabitants somehow managed to take root in it. Among them are unique fish for which the alkaline environment is completely harmless. They are called alkaline telapia for a reason.
The ability to kill and turn birds into mineral statues is the most unique and shocking phenomenon of Lake Natron. Photos of these natural statues were first taken by photographer Nick Brandt. He accidentally discovered them during his trip to Africa. His photographs became part of the report. Frozen birds from a distance seem to be alive, but in fact, having touched the deadly water, they have long turned into stone. Many who saw these terrible statues compared the lake with the mythical river Styx, which leads to the kingdom of the dead.
Flamingo Home
But the phenomenon of Lake Natron is not limited to dead sculptures. A lot of small flamingos live here. This is a rather rare species, but Lake Natron is one of the places of their mass accumulation and reproduction. The most beautiful birds are under the reliable protection of the waters of the lake, as they build their nests on the hillocks of s alt,located in the middle of the water. It is dangerous for chicks, which can accidentally fall out of the nest, while it is no less dangerous for predators to get to them.
In 1962, there was a big flood, as a result of which the number of flamingos suffered significantly. According to researchers, then more than a million eggs were destroyed. However, visiting these parts now, you can observe about two million flamingos at the same time.
Bloody Water
Alkalinity in a lake tends to rise due to evaporation. Due to this, some bacteria are activated. Due to their vital activity, the water in the lake from time to time acquires a red color. Cyanobacteria belongs to this type of bacteria. It is able to absorb light during photosynthesis and produce a bright red pigment. This ability gives the water an appropriate color.
"Bloody Water" is another Lake Natron phenomenon. Indeed, the lake is amazing not only with stone sculptures of birds. True, there is an assumption that in fact the water does not kill the birds, they died a natural death. It's just that the fumes covered their remains with s alt and mineral deposits, which is why they turned to stone. And the photographer, who became famous himself and glorified Lake Natron, simply found them on the shore, planted them on branches, as if they were alive, to give the effect of instant death from touching the water surface. Lake Natron in Tanzania is an incredibly beautiful area with magnificent scenery, which has no analogues in the world.
