Lake Natron is located in northern Tanzania and lies at Kenyan border. It is shallow lake with less than three meters depth and the width of the lake varies according to the water level due to changes occurring in the level of evaporation leaving the traces of mixture of minerals and salts called natron. The lake falls into Wetlands of Ramsar site and is fed by the Southern Ewaso Ngiro River. Depending on the amount of rainfall, the temperature in the lake fluctuates up to 60 degrees Celsius.
The color of the lake changes with variation in the degree of evaporation, as during dry season the salinity level increases and the microorganisms start to thrive in the lake, which are halophile organism such as cyanobacteria that make their own food following the process of photosynthesis as plants do. The lake exhibits deep red color due to the process of photosynthesis performed by these microorganisms. The high temperature of 60 Degrees Celsius and high salt content does not favor any wildlife. However, it is house to invertebrates, endemic algae and is a breeding site for flamingoes. The lake is under several threats, like imbalance in salinity level due to increased siltation and development of soda ash plant on its shore that is used to pump water from the lake.