The lake that petrifies

• Autores: Rowan Hooper
• Localización: New scientist, ISSN 0262-4079, Nº. 2936, 2013, págs. 26-27
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • The Lake Natron in northern Tanzania is featured. Unless one is an alkaline tilapia (Alcolapia alcalica)--an extremophile fish adapted to the harsh conditions--it is not the best place to live. Temperatures in the lake can reach 60°C, and its alkalinity is between pH 9 and pH 10.5. The lake takes its name from natron, a naturally occurring compound made mainly of sodium carbonate, with a bit of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) thrown in. Here, this has come from volcanic ash, accumulated from the Great Rift valley. Animals that become immersed in the water die and are calcified.