On the territory of Tanzania there is a reservoir containing substances that contribute to the petrification of the creatures that died next to it. The lake is located in one of the most active volcanic zones of the planet, constantly in motion - in the Great Rift Rift region to the north of the Empakai crater.
The rich blood-red hue of the lake, formed by the microorganisms living in it, is an elusive warning for all living things that invade its domain. Closer to the shores, the water turns bright orange, since the concentration of bacteria there is much lower. There are also rare places where the water is still of a natural color.
The lake's vapor scares off large predators, so it serves as a refuge for many small animals and a huge number of birds. Here they live, reproduce and die, but after death their bodies do not decompose, but are mummified.
The consequences of the rare chemical phenomenon of Lake Natron were portrayed by photographer and writer Nick Brandt in his book On the Torn Land. In order to clearly demonstrate his vision of what is happening, the author decided to take photographs of the victims of the anomalous reservoir found on its banks. All creatures were located in natural positions for their past life, which made his work even more terrifying, and the gray tones of the photographs seemed to emphasize all the transience of life.
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According to Nick, the pH of the water, which ranges from 9 to 10.5, and the increased alkalinity level contribute to the excess release of soda, salt and lime. This is what has the effect of petrification.
African shamans from the Maasai tribe call Lake Natron a canvas that was created by the gods who live in the sacred volcano Ol Donyo Lengai, at the foot of which there is a reservoir. The name of the volcano in translation from their language sounds like "Mountain of Spirits". When local tribes heard that people were thinking of building a salt processing plant here, they said that strangers should not provoke the gods so as not to incur their wrath.