đ As if it were the gateway to the underworld. There is no immediate death, but a punishment worse than death awaits. Like a fairy taleâbeautiful yet terrifying
âthis Tanzanian lake remains an enigma. Anyone who visits will see rows of petrified animal statues along the shore. These sculptures resemble the meticulous carvings of a skilled sculptorâperfectly preserved figures of bats, kingfishers, swans, eagles, and many other unknown creatures. However, calling them mere statues would be a mistake. They are like living fossils or even mummies.
The lake in question is Lake Natron in Tanzania. Any creature that enters this lake never returns alive. But that doesn’t mean they die instantly. Birds that descend into the water face a grim fate. First, the temperature of the lake reaches an unbearable 60°C (140°F). It is impossible to withstand the heat even for a moment. If, by any chance, a creature survives the scorching temperature, a fate worse than death awaits. Even reaching the shore doesnât ensure survival
âthe body gradually turns into stone. Just like the mythical Ahalya, they remain as lifeless stone figures.
đ But what causes this horrifying phenomenon? The answer lies in the highly alkaline nature of the lakeâs water. Lake Natron is a shallow lake, stretching 57 km in length and 22 km in width, with a depth of only 10 feet. Its bed was formed long ago by trachyte lava, which is rich in sodium and carbonate. This composition keeps the lakeâs temperature consistently around 60°C. Due to the high heat, the water in the lake evaporates rapidly, leaving behind lava-like liquid. Additionally, the alkaline properties of sodium and carbonate allow the growth of cyanobacteria, microorganisms containing red pigments. As a result, from a distance, the lake appears red. This striking color attracts birds.
đ The most dangerous aspect of this lake is that birds do not need to land in it to meet their doom. While flying over the lake, many birds fall into its deadly waters. But how? Since the water contains lava-like substances, it reflects an unusually high amount of sunlight. The intense glare blinds birds flying overhead, causing them to lose their bearings and crash into the lake. Some die immediately upon impact, while others struggle to reach the shore
âonly to face an even more gruesome fate. The lakeâs soda and salt cling to their bodies, slowly solidifying. Over time, this mixture turns into hardened limestone, transforming the unfortunate creatures into complete stone statues.
Geography zone
