THE DEADLEST LAKE IN THE WORLD

Have you ever heard of Medusa, the snake-haired Greek creature who can turn people to stone with a single glance? If so, she may be a myth, but there is a place, the notorious Lake Natron, that could actually turn you to stone. What makes the water of Lake Natron so hazardous, what kinds of creatures reside there, and would you be able to survive if you plunged in?

what would occur if you dove into Lake Natron?

Prior to jumping into Lake Natron, we should investigate its composition in detail.

This Tanzanian lake, like the Dead Sea, does not flow into any oceans or rivers, allowing it to absorb all the saline arid rain precipitation.

Doinyo Lengai's close proximity to the active volcano that spews a rare gas makes it exceptionally dangerous.

kind of lava rich in sodium and potassium carbonate called natural carbonatite or Natron for short releasing into the water this mix of sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate were key ingredients once used in Egyptian mummification creating the perfect preservative in Lake form the whole chemical composition is extremely alkaline with pH levels of 10.5 close to that of ammonia this gives the lake its rosy hue any birds who happen to take a dive and don't make it out become calcified in a hardened stone like husk talk about killing two birds with one stone in 2013 wildlife photographer Nick Brandt was one of the first to document this phenomenon he discovered several stone birds and other unlucky animals in the dry season when the water had receded he theorized that since the lake is so mirror-like and reflective the birds must have flown right into it as if it was a big glass door but despite so many birds dying in Lake Natron there is a particular species flourishing turns out the lakes toxic waters provide a safe haven from predators making it perfect flamingos flocking grounds so if flamingos can handle it couldn't we well

It's not quite that easy unfortunately flamingos thrive in salty lakes because of their tough skin and scaly legs which prevent birds they can drink the fresh water from nearby Springs or geysers at the edges of the lake and if they're desperate enough they can even filter saltwater with special glands in their nasal cavities and to top it all off their strong stomachs allow them to feed on the toxic algae found throughout the lake this makes Lake Natron the perfect spot to raise and protect their young so let's say we've tried to live like a flamingo and decided to take a dip well depending on the time of year the water can be a sixty degrees which is hot enough to cause third-degree burns and five seconds or less also I wouldn't plan on doing any fancy dives or cannonballs as it's shallowness is also chock full of sharp salty structures you wouldn't be turned to stone instantly but if you happen to drown and stay submerged your entire body would Harden and be preserved if people found you hundreds of years later you might still have your hair and organs intact ya still lookin spiffy after all those years like mummification Thankfully, natron's super high alkalinity halts the decomposition process, so you'd be safe from vultures and other hungry scavengers looking for a snack. If you waited into the lake at a time when the water temperature was lower, it might feel more like a hot tub, but your eyes or any open wounds would sting like crazy because of all the salt. I'd recommend wearing goggles. When their helicopter crashed, the pilot suffered a broken leg and another passenger had a broken hip. Miraculously, one of the passengers made it to the shore and alerted the nearby Masai tribespeople, who built stretchers and carried the injured to safety in the nick of time. Lake Natron swatters As for our flamingo friends, this just goes to show that even the harshest environments can be a haven for certain species. If you're craving something even more extreme, how about surviving a limnic eruptions on your next swim? If you think you could handle it, check out our new series on how to survive for more information. subscribe, like, share for more what if?