Explain why the lake is red like blood

Natron lake water is red like blood, this feature is more prominent in places with high evaporation rate.

Lake Natron is a saltwater lake located in northern Tanzania, northeast of Ngorongoro crater and near the Kenyan border. Nestled among volcanoes, Lake Natron is located at the lowest point of the Great Rift valley at an altitude of 600m above sea level.

Ho Natron

The lake is supplied with water from the Southern Ewaso Ng'iro River and mineral-rich hot springs. The lake water is quite shallow, less than 3m deep and its width varies depending on the water level. Meanwhile, the water level in the lake often changes because the lake has a high evaporation level, causing the salts and minerals, especially sodium carbonate (natron) to gather under the lake. The area around the lake is very hot and dusty, not conducive to travel.

If visiting Natron, visitors will enjoy one of the most unique landscapes in Tanzania. Natron lake water is red like blood, this feature is more prominent in places with high evaporation rate. When water evaporates in the dry season, salinity increases to the point that salt-loving microorganisms also begin to grow. This strain of microorganisms has created a deep red color of lake water, in shallower areas, the lake water is orange.

The temperature is quite high (about 41 degrees Celsius) along with the high, uneven salt content of the lake, which makes Natron not a favorable habitat for wildlife. However, this is an important residence of flamingos and endemic algae.