![]() ![]() The series of eerie photos present the deadly power of Lake Natron in a truly unique way. Photographer Nick Brandt has captured pictures of mummified birds and bats that met their fate in the toxic waters of Lake Natron. It’s often said that the lake turns these unfortunate animals into stones, but in reality, it’s more like a mummification process. Located in northern Tanzania, in the african Rift Valley at about 600 m above sea level, the lake owes its name to a natural compound formed mainly by sodium. Some speculate that the extreme reflective nature of the lake’s surface confuses them, just like a large glass window, causing them to crash into the lake.īecause of the lake’s unique characteristics, animals that die in the water are calcified. That said, no one actually knows for certain exactly how the animals die. A 'calcified' swallow sings in stony silence along northern Tanzania 's Lake Natron (map), which contains so much soda and salt that it would 'strip the ink of my Kodak film boxes in a few. If a creature drinks from the water, it will most probably end up dead as a result of the tremendous damage to the cells, nervous system, and livers. 1 of 7 Nick Brandt/Courtesy Hasted Kraeutler, NYC Eerie Animals Look Like Theyre Stone Calcified Reflected Flamingo, Lake Natron, 2010. The chemicals in the water burn the skin and the eyes. Updated SeptemThough Lake Natron is known for its life-ending properties, its actually quite hospitable to some lucky species. The alkaline waters of Lake Natron can reach a pH level (a measure of how acidic water is – it ranges from 0 to 14) as high as 12, while life generally prefers a pH level closer to 7. The red waters can even be seen from space! Image credit: NASA Earth ObservatoryĮven though the colorful surface can be very charming, it’s a fatal trap for most animals. ![]()
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