2026 for January 1970

Lake Natron in Tanzania glows blood-red, forged by volcanoes and extreme chemistry.

It is located in the Arusha region of Northern Tanzania.
It is a soda and salty water lake very close to the Kenyan border in the Gregory Rift, which is the eastern part of the East African Rift.
It was designated as a Ramsar Site of International Importance in 2001.
The extinct Gelai Volcano, standing at 2942 m tall, is visible southeast of the lake.
Primarily, the lake is fed by the Ewaso Ng’iro River, which originates from the central region of Kenya.
Natron itself has a maximum width of 22 kilometres and a length of 57 kilometres.
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.
As water cannot flow out of the lake, evaporation levels are very high, and this leaves behind natron (sodium carbonate decahydrate) and trona (sodium sesquicarbonate dihydrate).
The high concentration of natron gives the lake extreme alkaline levels, and it is one of the deadliest lakes on the planet.
The saline waters make the lake inhospitable for many plants and animals, yet the surrounding saltwater marshes are a surprising habitat for flamingos.
In fact, the lake is home to the highest concentrations of lesser and greater flamingos in East Africa, where they feed on spirulina – a green algae with red pigments.

Source: BT

Lake Natron FAQs

Q1: Where is Lake Natron located?

Ans: It is located in the Arusha region of northern Tanzania.

Q2: In which geological rift is Lake Natron found?

Ans: It lies in the Gregory Rift, the eastern part of the East African Rift.

Q3: Which volcano is visible southeast of Lake Natron?

Ans: The extinct Gelai Volcano.

Q4: Which river primarily feeds Lake Natron?

Ans: The Ewaso Ng’iro River.

Q5: What gives Lake Natron its striking red colour?

Ans: Its extreme alkalinity.