Lake Turkana

Lake Turkana is a massive, saline body of water located in the Kenyan Rift Valley.

Its northernmost tip actually crosses the border into Ethiopia. This lake holds several world records. It is the largest permanent desert lake on Earth. It is also the largest alkaline lake in the world. The water is more alkaline than seawater. By volume, it is the fourth-largest salt lake globally. It follows the Caspian Sea, Issyk-Kul, and Lake Van in size.

Geologically, the lake sits within the Great or Eastern Rift. A rift is a place where the Earth's crust pulls apart. This happens because tectonic plates are separating. This separation creates a graben, which is a deep trough. Water collects in this trough to form the lake. The rift is roughly 320 km wide in the north. It narrows to 170 km in the south. The surrounding rocks are mostly volcanic. Central Island, located in the lake, is an active volcano. It still emits vapor today.

The lake's water levels depend on a specific balance. Three rivers flow into the lake: the Omo, the Turkwel, and the Kerio. The Omo River is the most important source. It provides most of the lake's water. However, the lake has no river flowing out of it. The only way water leaves is through evaporation. This means the lake's size and volume can change. For example, levels fell between 1975 and 1993. Today, the Gilgel Gibe III Dam in Ethiopia threatens the lake. This damming of the Omo River could change the water supply.

The lake's unique chemistry affects how people live. The water is slightly brackish, meaning it is salty. It also has very high levels of fluoride. Because of this, the water is generally not suitable for drinking. It can also spread diseases if contaminated. For this reason, local communities often use underground springs instead. The high salinity also makes the water difficult to use for irrigation.

The climate remains hot and very dry. Strong winds often blow across the water. These winds happen because the lake heats and cools slowly. This can lead to sudden, violent storms.

History and discovery are tied to many different names. In 1888, Count Sámuel Teleki and Ludwig Ritter Von Höhnel visited the lake. They were the first Europeans to record a visit. They named it Lake Rudolf after an Austrian prince.

The lake was also called the Jade Sea. This name comes from its turquoise color. This color is caused by algae rising to the surface. In 1975, Kenyan President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta renamed it Lake Turkana. He named it after the Turkana people. The Turkana people call it Anam Ka'alakol, meaning "the sea of many fish."

Biology in the region is incredibly rich. The lake holds about 50 fish species. Twelve of these are endemic, meaning they are found nowhere else.

Examples include various cichlids and the robber tetra. Nile crocodiles live in great numbers on the shore flats.

The dry grasslands nearby host animals like Grevy's zebras.

Lions and cheetahs live in these same areas. Many birds also use the region as a flyway. The African skimmer nests on Central Island.

Lake Turkana is a site of great scientific importance. Many hominid fossils have been found in the surrounding area. These fossils help scientists understand human history. The area is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This status helps protect its natural value. The lake is part of a larger ecological system. It is associated with the Nile basin. This is because of prehistoric connections and similar animal life. It remains a wild and remote place, two days' drive from Nairobi.