Lake Natron: Does it really turn animals into stones?
Who doesn’t love the sight of a lake? Sitting by a serene lake and soaking in the sun on a winter noon, can be a wonderful experience. But there is one lake that can burn and strip away the skin of humans and other animals. Yes, we are talking about Lake Natron in Tanzania. This lake, red in colour, has the reputation for turning living things into stone! Sounds creepy, right?
Lake Natron is located in the northern part of Tanzania in East Africa. It stretches for up to 56 km and is up to 22 km wide. British photographer Nick Brandt has captured frightening and creepy images of stoned birds, commonly referred to as ‘bird mummies’ around the lake. The photographer first came across this phenomenon when he was on a photographic excursion in Northern Tanzania where he saw that numerous dead birds and bats, surrounding the lake, appeared to be made of stone. But how does this mummification happen? Let’s find out.
The truth about mummified birds and animals
Lake Natron is distinctive not only because of its red colour but also because it is extremely caustic (alkaline) and poisonous to most animals and birds. As it is located in a dry area, it receives little to no rain throughout the year and draws water only from a few rivers and hot springs. The volcanic materials of a nearby volcano (Mt. Ol Doinyo Lengai) is also its source of water. The catch is that, there is no way for the lake to drain into the sea or larger rivers. At extremely high temperatures, water evaporates, leaving behind salt, which includes natron (sodium carbonate decahydrate) and trona (sodium sesquicarbonate dihydrate). The’s how the Natron Lake got its name!
The high concentration of chemical salts increases the alkalinity of the lake to the extent that at times the pH increases to more than 12. That’s super alkaline! This is what makes the lake water poisonous for living things. Due to the peculiar chemical composition of the lake water, animals that die here or stay submerged gradually turn into hard calcified stone-like sculptures and are preserved over time. The high alkalinity of the water halts the decomposition process.
Interestingly, ancient Egyptians used natron for mummification owing to its superior drying and antibacterial properties. Natron aids in preserving dead bodies by removing all moisture and keeping microbes at bay.
What happens if you jump into Lake Natron?
Well, it won’t be fun swimming into this lake, thanks to the high temperature and alkalinity. It will burn you for sure, but won’t turn you into a mummy instantly. However, if you stay longer, your body is likely to be hardened and preserved.
Secret behind the red colour
The lake has a considerably high salt concentration, which supports the growth of salt-loving microorganisms called cyanobacteria. These bacteria impart the lake a pinkish-red tint. Not just this, the microorganisms also serve as a food source for various invertebrates and birds that inhabit this area.
The heroic creatures of the deadly lake
Despite the fatal nature of Lake Natron, it hosts a thriving and diverse ecology of salt marshes, freshwater wetlands, flamingos and other wetland birds, tilapia and algae. The lake is actually the largest breeding ground in the world for the endangered species Lesser Flamingos (Phoenicopterus minor). Biologists frequently refer to the large gathering of flamingos at the lake as the ‘pink parade’. But how do these creatures survive here? Well, these flamingos have a tough skin and scales on their legs that protect them from burns. Additionally, they are capable of drinking very hot water.