#Lake natron africa crack#

Hence, this lake has that preservative in a perfect lake form. These two chemicals were the key ingredients for the ancient Egyptian mummification. It seems like a normal lake when you hear its name, so what makes it lethal? The lake Natron is very close to the active volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai, this volcano forms a rare kind of lava that consists of rich amounts of sodium and potassium carbonate. The lake is a maximum of 57 kilometres long and 22 kilometres wide. It is one of the most shallow lakes in the world, its only 9.8 feet deep. Closest to Medusa – LAKE NATRONĪlthough Medusa is a Greek mythological character whose eyes when people see turn into stone, the lake Natron is a real place situated in north Ngorongoro District of Arusha Region in Tanzania. The consequences of falling into any one of these pools are instantaneous burns. Most of the acid pools here are sulphuric acid. The pools of water may look tempting in the scorching sun, but they are concentrated pools of acid.

As the salty waters from the red sea is pushed up through the surface of the rock by the volcanic pressure below, resulting in this alien landscape we see today. But what about fresh bubbling boiling salts that emerge from the hot spring for which Dallol is known for. As the water disappeared it left a large crust of salt-which explains the salt across the dessert.

#Lake natron africa crack#

Once a defined crack opens the workers will put multiple sticks in the whole and start jumping up and down to pop the salt block out of the earth.Ī long time ago when the oceans were much higher and the whole area was flooded with water. They look for cracks in the ground which will chip away with an axe like tool that will further split the ground. When it comes to salt mining, the locals have had a unique adaptation to their bodies that allows them to work through the heat yet keep cool. Not only being the hottest places on the planet it’s also one the most remote, paved roads are being put in by villagers, but jeeps and camel caravans are essential and are used today to collect and transport salt from the area. In 1966 it averaged 95F or 35C, during this time the temperature would reach up to 120 or 150 degrees. It holds the record for the highest temperature for an inhabitable place.

The Dallol hot springs are one of kind, abandoned settlements can be found in the outskirts. It is situated around a cinder cone volcano in the Danakil dessert. Getting to such place requires an expedition team with jeeps, camels, and lots of water. In the north- eastern parts of Ethiopia there is an alien landscape that is home to the hottest plays on earth. By Devaa Ramalingam – Art in Tanzania intern