Lake Natron

"Medusa Lake" redirects here. Not to be confused with Medusa Lake (Antarctica).

Lake Natron
Satellite image of lake.
The lake on 6 March 2017 (satellite image)
Located in Northern Tanzania near Kenya border.
Located in Northern Tanzania near Kenya border.
Lake Natron
LocationNgorongoro District, Arusha Region, Tanzania, Kajiado County, Kenya
Coordinates02°25′S 36°00′E / 2.417°S 36.000°E / -2.417; 36.000
Lake typesaline
Basin countriesTanzania
Surface elevation600 metres (2,000 ft)[1]
Official nameLake Natron Basin
Designated4 July 2001
Reference no.1080[2]
The southern half of Lake Natron (top). Fault scarps and the Gelai Volcano can also be seen. Numerous near-white salt-crust "rafts" pepper the shallowest parts of the lake (inset).

Lake Natron is a salt or alkaline lake located in north Ngorongoro District of Arusha Region in Tanzania at the border with Kenya. It is in the Gregory Rift, which is the eastern branch of the East African Rift.[1] The lake is within the Lake Natron Basin, a Ramsar Site wetland of international significance.[2] It is the only regular breeding area for Africa's lesser flamingoes, although this habitat is not protected and is under threat from planned development projects.

  1. ^ a b "Eastern Africa: Northern Tanzania, on the border with Kenya". World Wildlife Fund.
  2. ^ a b "Lake Natron Basin". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.