Recommended Free Tools
Lake Natron does not turn living animals to stone. Animals found along its shore had died before becoming salt-encrusted or mineral-coated, and photographer Nick Brandt arranged some of those remains in lifelike poses for his well-known images. The lake can appear pink or red in places, yet it is also a habitat for adapted fish, salt-loving microorganisms and lesser flamingos.
Does Lake Natron really turn animals to stone?
No. The evidence does not support animals being petrified alive on contact with the water. University of Utah geologist Thure Cerling told National Geographic that animals likely died of natural causes and became encrusted as lake levels dropped. He said they were probably coated with sodium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate, not truly calcified.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Nick Brandt: Inherit the Dust | $45.41 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Nick Brandt: The Day May Break | $29.32 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Across the Ravaged Land | $39.52 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Nick Brandt: This Empty World | $37.97 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
A Shadow Falls | $30.99 | Buy on Amazon |
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
That distinction matters: “turned to stone” is a vivid shorthand for post-mortem mineral and salt coating, not an instant transformation. Cerling also explained that the lake contains very little calcium; calcium from incoming fresh water precipitates when it mixes with the lake’s highly alkaline water.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsHow were the lifelike animal photographs made?
The remains in the photographs are real, but the poses are artistic. Brandt collected dead animals that had washed ashore and arranged them to look alive, as National Geographic reports. In a Smithsonian Magazine account, Brandt described his aim: “The idea for me, instantly, was to take portraits of them as if they were alive.”
#1 Best Overall
The photographs therefore combine actual remains with deliberate staging. Their stillness and lifelike poses can make the animals seem to have been caught mid-action, but they were not photographed alive and then turned to stone.
Why can Lake Natron look red?
Salt-loving microorganisms in shallow, salty pools can give the water pink and red hues. NASA identifies haloarchaea among the organisms associated with the lake’s color in its Lake Natron overview. The color is not a permanent, uniform feature of the entire lake: visible conditions and water levels change with the seasons.
Rank #2
What makes the water so alkaline and salty?
Lake Natron lies in an arid part of northern Tanzania, where evaporation often exceeds rainfall. NASA says that in a non-El Niño year the region receives less than 500 millimeters of rain, while rivers and other sources continue to feed the lake. Evaporation concentrates salts in the water.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →The salts also have a geological source. Nearby volcanism contributes sodium carbonate and calcium carbonate; these salts move along faults and emerge in hot springs that feed the lake. The combination of mineral inputs and evaporation helps explain its unusual chemistry without implying that every part of the lake is equally harsh at all times.
Rank #3
Why don’t flamingos die in Lake Natron?
Flamingos are adapted to use this challenging habitat; they are not immune to it. NASA describes lesser flamingos nesting as water recedes, while channels and pools can separate nests from predators. National Geographic also describes Lake Natron as an important lesser-flamingo breeding site and notes that adapted fish live in the lake.
The lake is inhospitable to many familiar forms of life, but it is not lifeless. Its shallow pools support salt-tolerant microorganisms, and its changing shoreline creates conditions that flamingos can use for nesting. A NASA page from 2002 reported 2.5 million lesser flamingos in the valley and called Natron their only breeding area at that time; that historical figure is not a current population estimate.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Used Book in Good Condition
Rank #4
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Leave a Reply