A Lake is usually a beautiful creation of nature that facilitate a vast variety of biodiversity. But it turns out, that Lake Natron is quite the opposite. Lake Natron is a beautiful area with a surface that appears like a mirror. We can see the whole view of the blue sky on Lake Natron. With the exotic red hue in the water, she is indeed a beauty. But she is like the witch queen in snow white. Beautiful from the outside while haunted inside. We all have heard the legend of Medusa when growing up. She can make men petrify with a single glance. For this lake, it is not only men but all the living beings. Let’s hear the story of this haunted lake.

How it was Discovered

A wildlife photographer named Nick Brand was traveling through East Africa, Tanzania in 2013 when he found this mysterious lake. He saw petrified birds and animals lying in the lake. As it was the dry season there were areas where waters had evaporated showing the bottom of the lake. He stated that because the lake surface looks so glassy birds may have flown into the lake.  The whole area looked cursed. He took the bodies of the dead animals kept them on branches in suitable positions and came up with a set of amazing photographs with a haunted hue. That was how the lake Natron was discovered. Since then scientists have done lots of research to solve the mysteries of Lake Natron.

Why are all the animals turned into stones?

Just like the dead sea lake Natron only has an inflow. It does not have a way to drain its water. This means the only way the lake loses the water is through evaporation. And when this happens lots of water evaporates leaving salts in the lake. So the water of this lake is very alkaline.

Lake Natron

Moreover, this lake has another recourse of salt which is the active volcano located near the lake. This volcano produces a rare kind of lava enriched with sodium and potassium Bicarbonate. This special kind of lava is known as  Natrocarbonatite or Natron. When the ingredients of  Natrocarbonatite are mixed with water, it turns into a liquid used in Egypt to mummify dead bodies. With this combination of chemicals, the waters of the lake reach 10.5 PH. It is so alkaline which is like Ammonia. When animals fall into this lake they die and get calcified.

Furthermore, the water of Lake Natron hits 60 degrees Celsius in the dry season. So if you fell into this lake you will get third-degree burns in five seconds or less. But you would not be turning into a stone immediately. But if you stay submerged in the water your body will be hardened. And you will be preserved just like a mummy. Even after hundreds of years, you will have your hair and organs in your body. Because the high alkaline levels of Lake Natron stop the decomposition process.

The red hue in the Natron water

There are two main theories about the red hue in the water of Lake Natron. One is that the color is coming from Natron lava mixed with the water. The most acceptable one is that there is an alga called Halo archaea which is red. Those microorganisms can bring a red color to the lake water.

Flamingo breeding areas

Situated near an active volcano, bearing water that can fluctuate from 41 to 60 degrees Celsius and being able to turn any animal into a stone, you may think Lake Natron has no living creatures. If you thought so, flamingos have proved you wrong. When you look at the middle of the lake there are hundreds and thousands of flamingos in the lake. They use the islands on the lake as their breeding areas as no predator can come across the lake.

Flamingos have adapted to the harsh environment of Lake natron. they can walk in shallow ends of the lake as they have scaly hard and long legs. They can find water from near lakes and geysers moreover, they have a special gland in their nasal cavities that can filter the salty water of the Lake Natron. Also, they have strong stomachs that allow them to feed on the toxic alga in the lake.

Flamingos in Lake Natron

Helicopter crash on the Lake Natron

Have anyone fallen into the Lake Natron? The answer is yes. In 2007 a helicopter crashed into the lake while flying with a group of wildlife videographers. Luckily everyone was alive. The pilot was with a broken leg and the video producer had a broken hip and cuts on his face. At that moment one passenger managed to make it to the near Masai village. The villagers helped others to arrive on land.

Do you know what to do If you were ever fallen into the toxic waters in Lake Natron? First, you have to keep your head above the water. if your eyes touch the water it can blind you forever and if this water is swollen it can even kill you. So you have to forget about the swimming lessons that you have learned and keep your head above the water. If you can find any floating surface to get on, you have to get on. But do not use your hands to move the water. You have to find something else to get that job done. If your clothes got wet you have to get rid of them asap. Because the water will evaporate and leave the salt on your skin. That can cause burns on your skin.

So, What do you think about Lake Natron? Any plans to visit this exotic area? Tell me in the comment section.