Tanzania's Blood-Red Lake Natron: Turning Animals to Stone and Fueling Myths

• Lake Natron, formed 1.5 million years ago near the Kenyan border, is known for its striking red color and ability to 'turn animals into stone'.
• Its blood-red hue comes from halophilic microorganisms (cyanobacteria) thriving in highly alkaline water (pH up to 10.5) rich in sodium carbonate from volcanic activity.
• Animals that die in the lake undergo calcification due to high mineral concentration, preserving them with a stone-like appearance, not instant petrification.
• Photographer Nick Brandt's images of calcified bird remains amplified the lake's mythic reputation.
• Despite harsh conditions, Lake Natron is a crucial breeding ground for East Africa's lesser flamingos, who are adapted to its caustic environment and feed on the red-pigmented cyanobacteria.