Lake Natron is an exceptionally alkaline Rift Valley lake and a crucial breeding ground for lesser flamingos.
The shallow saline lake lies in northern Tanzania near the Kenyan border, within the eastern branch of the East African Rift. Mineral-rich hot springs and rivers feed it, while intense evaporation concentrates sodium carbonate and other salts. The water’s pH can exceed 12, creating conditions that are hostile to most animals.
Those harsh conditions benefit lesser flamingos. Predator access is limited around the lake’s seasonal salt islands, allowing the birds to nest in relative safety. The lake is the only regular breeding area in East Africa for the region’s large lesser-flamingo population.
Lake Natron is sometimes described as turning animals to stone, but that is an exaggeration. Its alkaline water can preserve or calcify remains; it does not literally petrify living animals. Nearby Lake Magadi and Lake Nakuru are also alkaline lakes, but Natron is the classic flamingo-breeding site.