Lake Natron is a soda lake at the base of the active Ol Donyo Lengai volcano located in northern Tanzania, the area around Lake Natron is often described as having a desolate and almost lunar beauty. The lake Natron is close to the Kenyan border and its one of the Africa's Great Rift Valley lakes.
It is quite shallow, less than three meters (10 feet) deep, and varies in width depending on its water level. The color of the lake is characteristic of those where very high evaporation rates occur. Due to the high rate of vaporization during the dry season, salinity levels increase to the point that salt-loving microorganisms begin to thrive.
Increases salinity encourages thriving of cyanobacteria, the Lake Natron supports more nests for flamingoes. These flamingoes flock along saline lakes in the region, where they feed on blue - green algae with red pigments. Lake Natron is the only breeding location for Lesser Flamingoes because its caustic environment is a barrier against predators trying to reach their nests.
It is amazing how flamingoes are able to live in these conditions is the fact that an endemic species of fish, the alkaline tilapia, thrives in the waters at the edges of the hot spring inlets.
The unique biodiversity of Lake Natron Basin made Tanzania to name the area to the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance on July 4, 2001.
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