Lake Magadi Kenya

Lake Magadi is the worldfs second largest source of sodium carbonate. The general landscape in the pinkish mirror like Soda Lake is stunning because of the wonderful colors of its soda water and its bird life. The lake changes color according to the changes in light. Nevertheless some parts have turned bright green due to the profuse number of algae. Fresh water springs at the lakeshores and baths provide a natural spa for visitors. Lake Magadi is a two hours drive directly from Kenyafs capital city Nairobi by bus or private transport via Kiserian. At the lakes east shore lays Magadi Township. This is home to Magadi Soda Factory that produces Soda Ash that has a wide range of industrial use. For overnight travelers accommodation is available at Shompole lodge and Sambu camp among others.

The sweltering heat around the lake hasten the process of evaporation hence the salts flowing in the lake from the hot springs are trapped and concentrated in the lake leaving a vast expanse of white salt that cracks to produce large polygons. Flamingos nest on elevated mud mounds around the lake safe from any potential predators because the sweltering hot plains prevent any potential predators reaching the alkaline lake. Fresh water springs at the lakeshore attract a host of other birds that come to drink and clean themselves. A single species of fish Cichlid called Alcolapia Grahami, have adapted the hot and alkaline waters of this lake basin.

The thick encrustation of soda that give the landscape around the lake Magadi a weird lunar appearance, the intense heat, the isolation, the baking salt plains that stretch into horizons of shimmering heat haze and the pink waves of nesting flamingos give a lot of diversity in life making lake Magadi just another world.