Lake Natron Latest News
Recently, Tanzania's government halted a planned large-scale soda ash mining project at Lake Natron. Â Â Â Â
About Lake Natron
- Location: It is a salt lake located on the border between Tanzania and Kenya.
- It is part of the eastern branch of the Great Rift Valley.
- It has a unique composition of warm waters and salt, caustic soda, and magnesite deposits that provide ideal conditions for flamingos to thrive.
- It was designated as a Ramsar Site of International Importance in 2001.
- Primarily, the lake is fed by the Ewaso Ng’iro River, which originates from the central region of Kenya.
- One of the most striking features of this Lake is its striking red coloration. The primary reason for its hue lies in its extreme alkalinity.
- It is the only reliable breeding ground for Lesser Flamingos in Africa, supporting up to 75 per cent of the world’s population.Â
- Lesser flamingos feed on Lake Natron with Shompole volcano (situated on the border of Kenya and Tanzania) in the distance at the northern end of the lake.
- Threats: Several factors, including agriculture, pollution, and climate change, are threatening the beauty of this unique ecosystem.
Source: DTE
Lake Natron FAQs
Q1: Is Lake Natron a Ramsar site?
Ans: Lake Natron was designated as a Ramsar Site.
Q2: Which river drains into Lake Natron?
Ans: Southern Ewaso Ng'iro
