In addition, a peculiar site is found at the shores of the lake. Lake Natron can also reach a steamy state, with the water’s temperature recorded to reach 140 degrees Fahrenheit. The water in this lake only flows inward, so evaporation leaves behind hefty salt deposits. This causes the lake’s pH level to be a very basic 10.5 this pH level falls only a bit short of that of ammonia and bleach.

The deposits of natron, a chemical salt, flow in from the surrounding hills. Lake Natron is a salt lake, meaning it is incredibly alkaline. Although often photographed for its location under sunlit clouds and for its serene backdrop, the lake is an abyss for almost all wildlife. Lake Natron sits along the East African Rift System in northern Tanzania, and is 35 miles long and about half as wide. For instance, in the East African nation of Tanzania lies the deadly Lake Natron. Nonetheless, the complexity of nature has created exceptions to this rule. Water itself stands as a symbol of life ancient Egypt thrived due to fertile soil that would have been absent had it not been for the Nile River. Lakes and rivers are often credited in many civilizations’ lengthy histories for providing a means of transportation and crucial food security. the posed compositions reanimate the lifeless animals, alive again in death.In nearly any social studies class, bodies of water are framed as life-giving and as focal points for the world’s nations. for his monochrome portraits, brandt carefully removes the found birds from the water and places them in living positions, perching them on branches, and arranging them as floating figures on the stagnant shore. The mummified species are the eerie aftermath of nature’s nightmarish unpredictability.

brandt notes that the chemical level was so extreme, that while he was capturing the images, the ink stripped off his kodak film boxes within just a few seconds. the waterway contains a deadly chemical composition - a very high soda and salt content - which causes any creature who dares to dip in to die, calcify, and remain perfectly preserved as they dry. the animals had washed up along the shoreline of the lethal lake natron, a salt lake located near the kenyan border. While traveling northern tanzania for a pictorial journey of east africa, british photographer nick brandt unexpectedly came upon a number dead birds and bats that appeared to be made out of stone. Image © nick brandt 2013 / courtesy of hasted kraeutler gallery, NY Lethal lake natron calcifies animals into stone-like corpses

Lake natron animals