Situated in Arusha Region of Tanzania, the lake is in Africa’s Great Rift Valley is one of the most caustic lakes in the world.
The lake gets its reddish hue from salt-loving microorganisms called halophiles that thrive in its alkaline waters and produce reddish pigments, which color the lake’s salt crust red. The salty crust, however, changes over time, giving the lake a different appearance each time.
Located in an arid region where rainfall is erratic, the terminal lake is fed by hot springs and small rivers. The water from the lake also does not drain out to any river or sea. Volcanic ash from the Great Rift Valley is collected in its basin, making the lake hostile to most organisms.
