Lake Natron

Lake Natron Latest News

Recently, Tanzania’s government halted a planned large-scale soda ash mining project at Lake Natron.        

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. 
• 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

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