Lake Natron

March 27, 2023

Lake Natron is an alkaline lake located in the north Ngorongoro District of the Arusha Region in Tanzania.
Over a period of time, this lake has become a centre of attraction for experts and analysts.
Lake Natron has a myth that the lake turns animals that touch it into “stone.”
- However, there is no scientific proof to support this claim.
In fact, the same water supports a thriving ecosystem of salt marshes, freshwater wetlands, and flamingos.
The lake contains salt, soda, and magnesite deposits, which contribute to its alkaline nature.
The deposits of sodium carbonate found in the surrounding hills make the water extremely caustic, with a pH of over 10.5.
This hostile environment is due to the active volcano, Ol Doinyo Lengai, which emits rare natrocarbonatites – a carbonatite lava found only in this volcano.