Facts About Lake Natron
Facts About Lake Natron: Lake Natron is a salt or alkaline lake that is located in the North Ngorongoro District of the Arusha region of Tanzania and it borders kenya in the south. It has a surface elevation of 600metres, the lake has the Ewaso Nyiro river which originates from central Kenya, rising from mineral-rich hot springs.
The lake is quite shallow, with a depth of less than three meters, and it varies in depth depending on the level of water. The lake, by size, has a maximum length of 57 kilometers and is 22 kilometers wide.
The region around the lake receives irregular seasonal rainfall, its rainy season being the period between December and May, with the total rainfall being around 800 millimeters per year. The area is very hot and the temperatures are frequently above 40°C, which is equivalent to 104°F.
Lake Natron alkalinity is very high, with a PH of greater than 12. The bedrock surrounding the lake is composed of alkaline trachyte, which is dominated by sodium laid down during the Pleistocene period (Facts About Lake Natron). The lavas have high amounts of carbonate but low levels of calcium and magnesium levels. This has resulted in the lake concentrating into a caustic alkaline brine.
The lake experiences high evaporation over time, leaving behind a high concentration of salt and other minerals, the lake is uniquely different from other salt lakes like the Dead sea and Utah’s Great salt lake. This is simply because of its high amount of the chemical Natron, which is a mixture of Sodium carbonate and baking soda in its water.
Lake Natron has no outlet and the only way water leaves the lake is through evaporation, as the water evaporates in the dry season, the salinity level of the lake increases and invites salt-loving microorganisms, which begin to thrive. These halophile organisms include cyanobacteria that make their food just the same way plants do with photosynthesis.
This explains the red accessory of the photosynthesizing pigment, which the cyanobacteria produces, and the deep reds and orange color of the open water in the lake and on the shores of Lake Natron. The lake also appears red or pink due to the coloring of the alkali salt crust found on the surface of the lake by the salt-loving microorganisms that live there. At the shores of the lake are the salt marshes and freshwater wetlands, which support a variety of plants. (Facts About Lake Natron)
Most of the animals find the high temperatures around the lake, sometimes going up to 60°C and the lake’s high salinity inhospitable. However, the lake is home to some endemic algae, invertebrates and birds, with fish managing to survive around the slightly less salty regions around the shores of the lake.
The lake is popularly known for being the breeding area of over 2.5 million lesser flamingos in the East Africa region. The Flamingos the largest flock in the entire East Africa region, gather along the saline lakes to feed on the blue-green algae with red pigments. The flamingos find lake Natron safe for nesting and breeding because its caustic environment acts as a natural barrier against predators. The other species of flamingo, the Greater flamingos also breeds on the mud flats within the Lake.
There are two endemic fish species that are able to survive in the less salty regions on the shore of the lake. The alkaline Tilapia and Ndalalani thrive in the water edges and on the hot spring inlets. An alcalica is also found in the Lake but it is not an endemic species.
Lake Natron is termed dangerous because of its high level of cyanobacteria, which is found in its water. This already releases a chemical that can damage the cells, the nervous system and the livers of most of the animals that have consumed it. Majority of the animals that have drunk from Lake Natron have ended up dead.
Many questions have been raised as to what would happen if human beings were to swim in Lake Natron; this has been contributed by the curiosity of those who would wish to explore the mystery of the lake. It is said that if one were to drown or have their body chucked into Lake Natron, the high salt content in the lake’s water would stop the decomposition process, meaning the body would be preserved like a pickle in brine.
The PH level of the lake water is high and sometimes more than 10.5 which makes it so caustic that it can burn the skin and eyes of animals that haven’t adapted to it. In humans, the lake is more suitable for the dead than the living. In ancient Egypt sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate were used in the mummification process.
The best time to visit
Lake Natron: the best time to visit is determined by the temperatures of the region. In most seasons the best time to visit lake Natron is from late May to early November; this is because these months are slightly cooler. The area around the lake is too hot, especially in the dry season from December to February. The best time for Bird watchers is anytime from August, when the flamingos are beginning to gather and continue to amass until October.
Gelai volcano
At the southern edge of Lake Natron in the East African Rift Valley is Gelai volcano, which is also the knackered Mount Gelai. It stands at 2,942 meters, or 9,652 ft tall, and it is located in the Longido District of Arusha in Tanzania. The volcano is found within a region that is known as the Crater Highlands. It is the third most prominent peak in the entire Arusha Region and 13th highest peak in Arusha region,
The Gelai volcanic activity dates back to less than one million years ago. The area within the Gelai volcano experienced earthquakes in the summer of 2007. On the southern flank of the Gelai volcano, there is a fracture that formed a narrow dike with a depth of around 4000 meters.
The Gelai volcano is within a game-controlled area that extends East to Longido District within the Arusha region. This has resulted in an increase in the number of wildlife in the area, which is attributed to the anti-poaching efforts.
