Lake Natron

Northern Tanzania, Tanzania

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Lake Natron is a shallow, highly alkaline salt lake located in northern Tanzania near the Kenya border within the Ngorongoro District of the Arusha Region.

Situated in the Gregory Rift, part of the East African Rift Valley, the lake stretches about 57 kilometers long and 22 kilometers wide, with a maximum depth of less than three meters. It is fed mainly by the mineral-rich Southern Ewaso Ng'iro River and hot springs, making the lake's waters caustic with alkalinity levels reaching a pH between 9.5 and 12.

Despite its harsh conditions, Lake Natron is a critical breeding ground for the near-threatened lesser flamingo, with millions gathering there annually. The area around the lake experiences irregular rainfall mainly from December to May, and temperatures frequently surpass 40 degrees Celsius, creating a hot and dry environment. Nearby is the active volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai, known for erupting unusual natrocarbonatite lava.

Lake Natron and its basin are protected as a Ramsar wetland site due to their ecological importance.