Lake Natron, The Deadly Lake in Tanzania

by Hilya Safa · Published September 3, 2015 · Updated August 7, 2016

Lake Natron Tanzania Pictures

Lake Natron is a salt lake located in northern Tanzania, near the border with Kenya. The lake water is sourced from the River Ewaso Ng’iro and mineral hot springs nearby. Depth is only about three feet. What makes it unique is the lake Natron surface looks like Mars that we imagined in fiction. Bright red with full surface cracks. The salt content in the water of the lake is the perfect habitat of Halophile, microorganisms that produce a red pigment for photosynthesis.

Lake Natron Tanzania Pictures

Unfortunately, the condition of the lake environment inhospitable to other living beings. The region around the lake is very arid. No animals can survive in this lake Natron. High alkaline content of the lake water makes the body of every living creature dry up like a mummy.