Fed by natural springs from the surrounding volcanoes, the lake’s waters are rich with a mixture of salts and minerals, called natron. Its dazzling red color is not a product of the region’s rocky geology, but the pink salt-loving bacteria that live in the briny water. This post explores the lake's unusual characteristics, composition, and animals who survive in this hostile lake. 12. The pH level of this lake is 10.5, and that is very terrible for living beings. The lake is coated with a red salt outer layer, and its temperature reaches to 120’F. Cyanobacteria that grow in the shallow have a red pigment that produce the colors. Pink and red in colour, with temperatures frequently above 40° C (sometimes even 60° C), the water in places is so alkaline that it can burn skin, making it inhospitable for most plants and animals. Lake Natron, Tanzania, is one of the shallow, alkali-rich soda lakes of the East African Rift. Lake Natron's red color comes from cyanobacteria that photosynthesize into bright red and orange hues as the water evaporates and salinity rises. It starts off fairly “lake-like” with blue water, then slowly changes into an orange/brownish sludge and ends up as the blood-red surface as seen on the photos. Why is Lake Natron red? From above, Lake Natron’s waters look from a different planet. It is this red pigment of the cyanobacteria that gives the characteristic red color to the open waters of the lake and orange color to the shallow water of the lake. Asked by Wiki User. Why is Lake Natron red? The poison of the lake is brought about by the high temperatures which, incidentally, are why the lake is called Natron. Natron’s scientific name is sodium carbonate decahydrate. Natron is the most saline and alkaline reservoir not only in East Africa, but also in the world, and the characteristic muddy red color is just a dense crust of salt that covers the lake. Wiki User Answered 2010-06-12 02:51:34. Most abundant halophile microbe at Lake Natron is the cyanobacteria. These minerals are revealed when the water level decreases in the dry season and form a crimson crust over the lake’s surface. Those animals and humans that are not familiar with this lake… The shade of the lake is normal for those where high evaporation rates happen. Lake Natron is a salt or soda lake in Arusha Region in Tanzania.It is in the Gregory Rift, which is the eastern branch of the East African Rift. See Answer. As a result, a material called Natron is left behind. Watch the video below. Lake Natron is a very special lake. 13. So why is Lake Natron red? Hence the name. This bacterium has a red pigment that it uses for photosynthesis. As water vanishes during the dry season, saltiness levels increment to the point that salt-adoring microorganisms start to flourish. The Lake Natron is situated in Northern Tanzania. 11. 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