Lake Natron, located in the north of Tanzania, is one of mysterious places on our planet. Interest in him arose in connection with the publication of the illustrated edition "Across the Ravaged Land" ("Across the ravaged land"). Its author is the famous photographer Nick Brandt, who is well acquainted with African nature. He claims that sinister lake has the ability to turn bats and birds that fly here into stone.
The mysterious lake in Tanzania attracted the attention of the photographer not by chance: Nick Brandt specializes in black and white photography of wild African animals. Visiting Natron, the photographer was struck by the abundance of bird skeletons that can be found in coastal strip Therefore, it became necessary to find an explanation for this phenomenon.
The main feature of the lake is the high temperature of the water, in the swampy part it can reach 60 C. In addition, a high level of salt content is recorded in the water, the alkalinity can reach a pH of 9 to 10.5. These factors contribute to the "mummification" of animals that fall into this aggressive environment. In fact, the birds gradually turn into limestone.
Nick Brandt was able to find several surviving "statues" of birds. He set them in natural poses against the background of the water, because in the pictures they look like they are 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 - the only place, where lesser flamingos breed (although, as we can see, some birds die immediately).
There is no exact explanation for the cause of the death of birds. Scientists believe that they can be disoriented due to the powerful reflectivity of the surface of the lake. Like birds breaking on transparent glass, African flyers crash into the surface of the lake.
A lake that kills or disfigures almost any living thing that touches its water. Sounds creepy and fantastic. And not believable at all. But, imagine, such a lake really exists on our amazing planet. His name is Natron.
In this article, we will tell you how this lake kills, what is its danger, where Natron is located, and how much the cheapest tickets to it cost.
Where is Lake Natron
A dangerous natural reservoir is located in northern Tanzania, almost on the border with Kenya.
The lake is part of the rift valley. By the way, this volcanic zone is still one of the most active on Earth. The volcano closest to the lake is Lengai, which last erupted in 2010.
The area close to the natural pool looks very mystical and deserted, as if life has completely stopped here.
How to get to Lake Natron cheaply
You understand, due to the remoteness from Russia, getting to the lake cannot be cheap. Yes, the road will be long. The easiest and fastest way to get there, if, of course, this word is applicable at all in this situation, is to get to it from the city of Arusha. You can get to Arusha from Nairobi by bus. The journey will take 4 hours. More fast way there is no movement in those parts yet.
But we tried and found the best for you profitable proposition- on the Aviasales.ru- behind 30 678 rubles.
If you do not want to get to Natron on your own, look for local travel agencies in Nairobi. They organize excursions to the lake and volcanoes. This option will cost more, but you do not need to worry about anything. Excursions are also good because the guide will tell you a lot interesting information about this natural reservoir and the area as a whole.
What is the danger of Lake Natron
As we have already shared with you, this water can kill. And it does this successfully to this day with living beings who decided to swim there.
Lake Natron does not even reach 3 meters in depth. But it is almost 57 km long, more than 22 km wide. But the danger of Natron is not in its size.
The deadly nature of the lake is explained as follows. It is the most salty and alkaline in the world. At a water temperature of up to 60 degrees year-round, its alkalinity is 9-10.5 pH.
In summer, during the evaporation of water, alkalinity rises, and the reservoir becomes even more deadly. Any living creatures, especially small ones, for example, birds, touching the water, die due to the highest level of alkalinity. Death occurs instantly - the creature literally freezes. Over time, it dries up and becomes covered with salt. That is why tourists who come to see the deadly wild beauty see many frozen bird mummies on the lake. The picture, we tell you, is really terrifying. Goosebumps run through the body.
Horror is also added by the dangerous color of the water in the lake - from orange to bright brown. This is due to the fact that certain bacteria live in the water. Depending on the season, they become active and take on a more or less saturated shade of red.
In the summer season, due to the special aridity of those parts, the lake dries up along the edges, the earth is covered with salt and cracks. This gives its fantastic nature to those landscapes. Imagine: an almost extinct desert, hot earth, volcanoes in the distance, nearby - a bloody lake, which is so tempting to kill, and next to it - petrified statues of birds that once flew here, but never able to get out of this deadly trap ...
Photographer Nick Brandt was the first to photograph these dead birds. On his first visit, he took many stunning photos of Lake Natron and frozen mummies. After that, he gained worldwide fame. True, for the sake of justice, it’s still worth saying that some researchers and travelers who have been here express the opinion that the dead birds on the lake are Brandt’s staged work. Scientists say that it is quite possible that the birds died a natural death, but over time they became covered with fumes, which is why they acquired such an ominously terrible appearance. And the resourceful photographer simply seated them on branches, as if they were frozen on these branches.
Even so, this does not detract from the danger of the lake.
Is it possible for a person to swim in Lake Natron
Only a fool would dare to swim in this pond. After all, the high temperature and alkalinity of the water will quickly lead to severe burns, even if you just put your hand there. The skin will instantly blister, which will take a very long time to heal. Needless to say, the scale of the disaster, if a person completely climbs into this water. It can even lead to death.
Is there life on the lake
Oddly enough, but some living creatures can still live in such alkaline water. Some of them are small alkaline telapia fish. Others are lesser flamingos. These smart birds build their nests on salty islands, and the pungent smell of water scares away predators. Lake water is deadly only for small chicks that risk falling out of the nest.
When is the best time to go to Natron
As we know, there is never winter in Africa. Therefore, you can come to Tanzania to look at Natron and take amazing photos at any time of the year.
But we advise you to buy the cheapest tickets to Nairobi and, accordingly, to Natron in spring or summer.
To take a photo of pink flamingos, which nest in the lake in thousands at the beginning of summer, come, of course, at the beginning of summer. They are also there at other times of the year. But not in this in large numbers.
Yes, tickets to Natron cannot be called cheap. But we are sure that real travelers who appreciate unique interesting places of our planet, they will definitely buy tickets and come.
To buy the most cheap ticket to Natron, we advise you to go to Aviasales.ru
Strong impressions to you, friends! Send photo reports after the trip - we will share your work with everyone!
On the territory of Tanzania there is a reservoir containing substances that contribute to the petrification of creatures that died next to it. The lake is located in one of the most active volcanic zones on the planet, constantly in motion - in the Great Rift Fault north of the Empakai crater.
The rich blood-red hue of the lake, formed by the microorganisms living in it, is an elusive warning to all living things that have invaded its possessions. Closer to the coast, the water becomes bright orange, as the concentration of bacteria there is much lower. There are also rare places where the water is still of its natural color.
The evaporation of the lake scares off large predators, so it serves as a refuge for many small animals and a huge number of birds. Here they live, breed and die, but after death their bodies do not decompose, but are mummified.
Photographer and writer Nick Brandt captured the aftermath of a rare chemical phenomenon in Lake Natron in his book Across the Tortured Land. In order to clearly demonstrate his vision of what is happening, the author decided to take photographs of the victims of the anomalous reservoir found on its banks. All creatures were located in natural positions for their past life, which made his work even more terrifying, and the gray tones of the photographs seemed to emphasize the transience of life.
According to Nick, the pH of the water, which ranges from 9 to 10.5, and the increased level of alkalinity contribute to excessive excretion of soda, salt and lime. This is what causes the effect of petrification.
African shamans from the Masai tribe call Lake Natron a canvas that was created by the gods who live in the sacred volcano Ol Donyo Lengai, at the foot of which there is a reservoir. The name of the volcano in translation from their language sounds like "Mountain of Spirits". When the local tribes heard that people were thinking of building a salt processing plant here, they said that outsiders should not provoke the gods, so as not to incur their wrath.
You can see more photos of this place in ours.
Video - Deadly Lake Natron
Lake Natron is 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). Sheltered between huge volcanic hills and deep craters, Lake Natron is located at the lowest point of the rift valley - 600 meters above sea level, and most likely is the most caustic body of water in the world.
The lake is fed from the southern branch of the Ewaso Ngiro River (Southern Ewaso Ng "iro), as well as from mineral-rich hot springs. This lake is very shallow and its depth does not exceed three meters, and the width varies depending on the water level, which varies from 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, they are rewarded with some of the most magnificent scenery that can ever be seen in Tanzania.People who have been there say that even the views that open during the trip to the lake are worth it, to go there.
Photo taken by George Steinmetz
The lake has a dark red color, typical for those lakes where there is a very high intensity of evaporation. As the water evaporates during the dry season, the salt concentration in the water will rise to the point where salt-loving microorganisms will flourish. 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 the salt. 
Due to the high temperature (up to 41°C) and the high and very variable salt content of the lake, there is no fauna here. However, the lake is an important habitat for flamingos and is also home to endemic algae, invertebrates, and even fish that can survive in slightly less salty water. 
In East Africa, this lake is the only regular breeding area for 2,500,000 lesser flamingos, whose "near extinction" status is the 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 salt lakes in that region, 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 flamingo nests built on islets that form seasonally in the lake due to evaporation. 
"Salted" flamingo skeleton on Lake Natron. In addition to the bones, the "salted" feathers of the dead bird have been preserved.
On the territory of Tanzania there is Lake Natron, the waters of which contain substances that contribute not only to the death of animals that have touched the surface of the reservoir, but also to their petrification. The rare phenomenon is caused by the chemical composition of the lake, which leaves behind petrified creatures, like from a horror movie. The effects of this rare chemical phenomenon were captured by photographer Nick Brandt in his book Across the Tortured Earth. Nick Brandt writes in his new book that the petrified creatures around the lake are preserved thanks to a constant pH of 9 to 10.5. Such alkalinity preserves these creatures for eternity. How exactly these birds, bats and other animals died is not known.
Lake Natron (Lake Natron) is translated as "red", because of its special color, which is given to it by certain microorganisms that appear when salinity and alkalinity increase excessively. The main such organism is cyanobacteria, a tiny bacterium that, like plants, absorbs light through photosynthesis. As a result, from the accumulated photons, the pigmentation of this amazing bacterium changes towards red color, and millions of bacteria of the cyano species formed in the alkali of Lake Natron give a deep red color to all water surfaces. Only in shallow water, where these bacteria are slightly less, the water is no longer bright red, but orange. This is truly a miracle canvas of nature, painted by a local God named Lengai, the progenitor of all that exists on Earth among the Masai tribes.
Dead Lake Natron is located in northern Tanzania on the border with Kenya. This salt lake has a shallow depth - a maximum of 3 meters, and is constantly changing its coastline depending on the season and water level. The water temperature in the wetlands can reach 50 degrees Celsius, and depending on the water level, the alkalinity can reach a pH of 9 to 10.5. Dead Lake Natron is covered with a crust of salt that periodically turns red and pink. This is the result of the vital activity of microorganisms that live in the lake.
The lake is located in one of the most active volcanic zones in the world, constantly in motion - this is the Great Rift Fault area north of the Ngorongoro Crater and Empakai. Along with Lake Eyasi, located southeast of the Ngorongoro Protected Zone, and Lake Rukwa in western Tanzania, Lake Natron is one of the unique alkaline lakes in the world, predominantly consisting of salt and soda. A similar chemical interaction of underground flows, water and air is a specific microclimate around these reservoirs. The landscape itself is also subject to change. First of all, because of the fumes that turn the shores of the lake into a petrified salted white desert.
The total area of the reserve is 700 sq. km.
It is here, not far from this dead sea» Tanzania is one of the sacred places Ancient Africa- Volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai, which in translation from the language of the Masai tribe means "Mountain of the Gods" or "Mountain of Spirits". This volcano is today one of the "LIVING WONDERS OF TANZANIA", which you can read more about in the fascinating article "Why Tanzania's volcanoes do not sleep?".
According to some reports, Ol Doinyo Lengai woke up for the last time in October 2008, but he never fell asleep. According to the latest data, the volcanic eruption was also observed in 2010, which is apparently caused by the growing discontent of the "gods living in the crater of the volcano."
One of the main reasons for their dissatisfaction could be the active discussion of the construction of a soda processing plant on the shores of Lake Natron - right at the foot of Ol Doinyo Lengai. The second reason could be the plans to build a hydroelectric power station at the northern end of the lake, which would provoke a change in the alkaline balance in the lake.
Be that as it may, the Natron Lake Reserve, which includes sacred mountain is increasingly exposed to the external influence of large companies, which violates the peace zone and can provoke, according to the Masai shamans, the “wrath of the gods” Ol Donyo Lengai.
There are many articles on the Internet on this topic, many talk about the inevitable death after touching the surface of the lake. But actually it is not. Millions of flamingos live here. And the lake is the only breeding area for the 2.5 million endangered Lesser Flamingos that live in the valley.
These flamingos congregate along salt lakes in areas where they feed on Spirulina (blue-green algae with red pigments). Lake Natron is the only breeding ground for the Lesser Flamingo because its caustic environment acts as a barrier against predators trying to reach these birds' nests. Temperatures in the wetlands can reach 50 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit), and depending on rainfall, alkalinity can reach a pH of 9 to 10.5 (almost as alkaline as ammonia).
In 1962, due to heavy rains, there was a flood. According to experts, more than a million eggs were destroyed.
There are two endemic species of alkaline telapia in the lake - Alcolapia latilabris and Alcolapia ndalalani. The species Alcolapia alcalica is also present in the lake, but it is not endemic.
Threats to salinity balance from increased freshwater inflows come from the projected flooding watersheds of Lake Natron and planned hydroelectric operation. Although development plans include the construction of a dam at the north end of the lake to contain fresh water, the threat of dilution is still to be serious.
A new threat to Lake Natron is the development of a soda processing plant on the shores of the lake. The plant pumps water from the lake and then chemically extracts the sodium carbonate to convert it into washing powder for export. Also, housing for more than 1,000 workers was built near the plant, and coal was brought to the power plant to provide energy for the entire plant complex.
Because of its unique biodiversity, Tanzania has named the Lake Natron Basin to the List of Wetlands of International Importance - Ramsar, July 4, 2001.
The hunting grounds within the Lake Natron Conservation Area are located on its northern and southern borders and are referred to as the Lake Natron South Game Control Area and Lake Natron North Game Control Area, respectively.
The southern hunting grounds of the reserve are located north of Arusha in the famous Maasai Steppe, spread over 1500 sq. km. To the west they border the Ngorongoro Protected Area, and to the north and east they border Kenya and Lake Natron, respectively. These areas are home to two permanent luxury campsites and two adventure fly camps. The demi-season camp "Kiserian adventure camp" offers accommodation in a valley with stunning views of Mount Kilimanjaro and excellent opportunities for hunting Grant and Thompson's gazelle and in the very north of the protected area - gerenuk and small kudu.
Not less than great place to observe the life of the Maasai lands, is the luxurious Kitumbeine luxury base camp, located at the Kitumbeine mountain of the same name (2800 meters), where savannah acacias grow. The camp is located at the foot of this mountain and offers panoramas of indescribable beauty overlooking the mountain ranges of the Great Rift Fault and the white smoking cap still active volcano Olduvai. Here are some of the most the best places for hunting oryx, mountain buffalo and large leopard.
Northern hunting grounds (Lake Natron North Game Control Area) 0 are much more extensive. They run along the border of Tanzania and Kenya, to the east of Lake Natron itself, where they rise mountain ranges Great Rift Rift, covered with a dense array of mixed rainforest, where mountain buffalo are preserved in large numbers - a special trophy of Masailand. You can stay in one of two mobile hunting camps, which will be delivered along with provisions by plane from Arusha or Kilimanjaro.
Here is the most wild and untrampled by man terrain than in the south. That is why the villages of the original African Masai tribe here seem to fit especially organically into the landscape of the Lake Natron reserve. This is one of the best places for photo safari. Just imagine the red expanse of water with the same red haze in which thousands of small flamingos are drowning on the horizon, coloring their wings in orange and pink hues as if involuntarily.
Here it is allowed to hunt typical representatives of the Masailand fauna: mountain buffalo (buffalo), bushpig or bard hog, leopard, lion, hyena, jackal, white antelope, savannah zebra, small cats (caracal, genet, kivet, serval and wild cat), small antelopes (dikdika, duiker and Steinbeck's antelope), medium antelopes (gerenuk, lesser kudu, East African bushbuck, impala) and Thompson's, Grant's, Robert's and mountain reedbook gazelles.
Among the allowed game species, large antelopes are also available: oryx, patterson and large kudu. It is also possible to hunt for feathered inhabitants of the northern forests of the Natron Lake Reserve. Among the local population of the Maasai, the meat of grouse, pigeon and quail is especially valuable.
How to get there
The roads to the lake are quite broken, and basically you can only get through Arusha or Lake Manyara Park (5-6 hours). But, nevertheless, the local route is one of the most difficult compared to other tourist areas. An alternative "route" of the safari trophy to the lake passes through the eastern corridor of the Serengeti - Loliondo.
Things to do
Watch flocks of flamingos on Lake Natron, climb to the coldest active crater in the world - Ol Donyo Lengai, arrange an antelope safari.
Features of Lake Natron The phenomenon of Lake Natron an eerie sight
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. In summer, the lake is much shallower due to strong evaporation. It is at this time that the concentration of salt and sodium carbonate in the water rises, and the surface of the reservoir becomes covered with a thin crust. Mineral salts come here along with the ash of a volcano located in the East African Rift Valley.
The uniqueness of the area
The lake itself is 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. 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.
Killer beauty Lake Natron phenomenon
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 into death 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 films.
The Lake Natron phenomenon 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. No wonder they are called alkaline telapia.
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 abode lake natron phenomenon in tanzania
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 salts 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 lake natron phenomenon photo
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 the appropriate shade.
"Bloody water" is another phenomenon of Lake Natron. 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 salt 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 landscapes, which has no analogues in the world.
