Lake Natron, Tanzania

Click on Image to Enlarge  (JPG) Lake Natron, Tanzania (1,651,942 bytes) ( 2,544 x 3,124 )

Lake Natron, Tanzania is located in AfricaÔÇÖs Great Rift Valley. The alkali salt crust on the surface of the lake is often colored red or pink by the salt-loving microorganisms that live there. The lake is the only breeding area for the 2.5 million Lesser Flamingoes that live in the valley. These flamingoes flock along saline lakes in the region, where they feed on Spirulina (a blue-green algae with red pigments). Even more amazing than the ability of the flamingoes to live in these conditions, is the fact that an endemic species of fish, the alkaline tilapia thrives in the waters at the edges of the hotspring inlets. Because of the unique biodiversity, Tanzania named the Lake Natron Basin to the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance on 4 July 2001. This simulated natural color ASTER image was acquired on March 8, 2003, is centered near 2.3 degrees south latitude, 36 degrees east longitude, and covers an area of 38.2 x 46.9 km.

Click on thumbnails below for full resolution images.

Lake Natron, Tanzania Type: (JPG) Size: (1,651,942 bytes) Resolution ( 2,544 x 3,124 )