Lake Natron also has some attractions to offer in its surroundings.

According to research, they are 120,000 years old and belong to about 30 men, women and children. The fresh volcanic ash hardened and preserved these historic footprints for posterity. Traces of the pastĪbout 350 human footprints were found in the volcanic ash on the shore of Lake Natron over an area of 150m². The Lake Natron Consultative Group is now campaigning for the conservation of Lake Natron and the flamingos. Until now, due to its inaccessibility, no formal protection of Lake Natron has been necessary to prevent such projects. If this plan is implemented, East Africa's flamingos will be driven to the brink of extinction. There were already plans to extract the natron from the lake and use it industrially, which would prompt the construction of a pumping station and a power plant, as well as accommodation for about 1,000 workers. Therefore, be sure to bring sunscreen and enough water! Lake Natron in danger There are also no trees or rocks to provide shade, only shimmering heat. Tip: If you visit Lake Natron, you have to expect extremely high temperatures. They are heavily dependent on the continued existence of Lake Natron, because on top of that, the desert-like environment of the salt lake keeps predators away, allowing the flamingos to breed in peace in their mud nests. In East Africa, this is the only feeding and breeding ground for the huge colonies, making the lesser flamingos a 'near threatened' species. Up to two and a half million of the fascinating pink birds gather at Lake Natron for regular feasts.

The algae and brine shrimp are the preferred food of a variety of birds, most notably the elegant, salmon-coloured lesser flamingos. The concentrated population of these tiny animals gives the salt lake its characteristic rust-red colour, which makes it visible even from space. However, Lake Natron is mainly populated by the endemic algae Spirulina and billions of brine shrimp. Despite the extremely salty and alkaline water in Lake Natron, cichlids live in the less salty water regions.

What is lake natron made of