The volcano rises up to 2890 m above the flat salt surface of Lake Natron, and its 1,000 m altitude difference from the point where you leave your car to the summit can be hiked. The erupted lava only turns red at night, reminiscent of the classic image of an erupting volcano. The sodium carbonate, which does not glow during the day, is black immediately after spill, quickly turning white by chemical reaction on contact with rainwater, resulting in a shimmering soft powder, creating an illusion of a crater covered with snow. It is in fact the only volcano in the world that erupts sodium carbonate, a very fluid lava that reaches temperatures much lower (about 500° C) than the more than 1,100° C of normal basaltic lava. Ol Doinyo Lengai is the only active volcano among the many that are found in this part of the Rift Valley, and is very special, almost unique. Just before reaching the lake, you can admire on the left the perfect cone of the Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano, “ Mountain of God“, sacred to the Masai people who climb its slopes to bring offerings and propitiate the favours of the divinity who dwells in the volcano. Lake Natron and the surrounding environment The lake is their ideal habitat both for the safety of their nests from predators, who are unable to reach them on the expanses of salt and mud reaching 50°, and for the high presence of the spirulina algae they feed on, giving their characteristic colour. The lake’s excessive salinity makes it impossible for most animal species to thrive, with the exception of minor pink flamingos (lesser flamingo), which gather here every year between August and October in huge flocks (there are about 2.5 million of them) and nest. The reason for this is because the waters of Lake Natron are formed by some underground springs originating from Ol Doinyo Lengai with very high levels of salinity, and also due to low rainfalls of under 400 mm per year, which is insufficient to compensate for the high evaporation caused by the heat. Its size, like its colour, also varies greatly throughout the year, with its water shrinking so much during the dry season that it reveals large areas of soil covered with a thick salt crust. It is a 60 km long alkaline lake, located north-east of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, with shades ranging from white to pink and brown, depending on the time of year, offering one of the most beautiful views during safaris in Tanzania. Geek out with the latest in science and weather.Lake Natron, with the nearby Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano, is a pristine, rugged and particularly fascinating place that offers you the chance to experience enchanting excursions outside the most touristic routes. (Photos courtesy: Nick Brandt/ Hasted Kraeutler Gallery) These birds, along with greater flamingos, nest in the area every year, and it's the red algae they eat that give these birds their vibrant pink colour. The environment supports salt-loving microorganisms and algae, two species of fish known as alkaline tilapia live in the waters near the lake's hot springs, and the lake is the only breeding area in eastern African for the lesser flamingo. There are salt marshes and wetlands around the lake's shores. In fact, whereas a lake that actually petrified anything that came near it or touched the water would likely be a complete dead-zone for birds and animals, life thrives around Lake Natron. The 'stony' look about them just comes from the the salts and sodas in the natron caking onto their skin and feathers. However, these animals are simply dying near the lake, their bodies get covered with a layer of natron, which dries them out and preserves them. This is what creates things like petrified wood and dinosaur fossils. When a body becomes truly petrified, its cells are slowly replaced over time by rock.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |