6Lake Natron, Tanzania: A Deadly Alkaline Lake
Lake Natron in Tanzania is not your average lake. Its high concentration of sodium carbonate and other minerals makes its waters highly alkaline, with a pH level that can reach up to 10.5. This caustic environment can turn animals that come into contact with it into eerie, calcified statues. The lake’s waters are also incredibly hot, with temperatures reaching up to 140°F (60°C) in some areas.
The combination of the lake’s eerie red color, caused by salt-loving microorganisms, and the petrified remains of animals that have ventured too close, gives Lake Natron an otherworldly and unsettling atmosphere. Despite its harsh conditions, the lake is home to a thriving population of flamingos, which use the toxic waters to protect their nesting sites from predators.
