![lake natron flamingo season lake natron flamingo season](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O8I8Z1rkn2Y/UnOwOH8rn8I/AAAAAAAAAr0/mRglpSXKDoU/w1200-h630-p-k-no-nu/LN11.jpg)
This phenomenon is being brought to light in the third installment of Brandt’s photo book series, entitled Across the Ravaged Land (Pt. The mineral content can get so high that the water feels “thick” to the touch.Theories suggest the animals are confused by the glassy surface of the lake and get trapped there, slowly calcifying because the water is so “heavy” they cannot escape once they come in contact with it. This makes the lake highly corrosive, and contributes to the “stoning” of so many birds and mammals that fall victim to the water.
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Due to the caustic nature of the lake and the surrounding landscape, the flamingos can breed without fear of predators.ĭuring the dry season, Lake Natron’s pH levels can rise to 10.5, which is just below ammonia on the scale of caustic substances. Lake Natron is the one of very few places in the world where these birds breed. The flamingos eat the blue-green algae of the lake and use the salt-islands and the outer edges for breeding. The lake temperature can rise to 120 degrees (F), which makes it far too hot for any other kind of wildlife to live there, but lesser flamingos use the lake as feeding and nesting grounds. This algae gives the lake a rust-colored appearance from space. The only creatures that are surviving in Lake Natron include a single species of fish, alkaline tilapia ( Alcolapia latilabris), and cyanobacteria, a type of blue-green algae. Evaporation of the surface creates islands of exposed salt deposits in the lake, some large enough to be recorded on satellite images. The lake is fed by a river and mineral hot springs in the area, but has no outlet, so these waters have nowhere to go but up. The dead animals are preserved in eerie detail, from birds to bats each one has been slowly turned to stone by the waters of Lake Natron. He picked up animals washed up onto the shore of the lake and placed them in pre-mortem positions for his photographs. Photographer Nick Brandt captured images of birds and other animals killed by the high alkaline content of the lake. The lake, named for the naturally occurring mix of chemicals including soda ash and baking soda in its waters, is so salty, fish can only survive along the edges where the saline content is somewhat lower. See the area during a safari in Serengeti National Park or Great Rift Valley.Birds are being turned to stone by the waters of Lake Natron in Tanzania, Africa. However, during the wet season (November to May) the afternoon thundershowers are often expected. See this unique lake and the Natron area, which provides spectacular sites: from flats to escarpments, to volcanoes.Īnytime – the weather is always warm. It is a safe breeding place for these birds, since no predators come to this unfriendly terrain. Surprisingly, this lake is a habitat for flamingos, that nest here and feed on red algae despite the alkaline water. The color varies from orange to red, to pink and is produced by the bacterias and other microorganisms.
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A very shallow salt lake is very dangerous for those, who are not adjusted: the temperature can reach 60✬ and its ph level is 10! However, its rare red color makes Lake Natron a very unique and beautiful destination, which can be compared only to Laguna Colorada found in Bolivia.