There is a deadly blood-red lake which turns animals into scary stone-like creatures.
The high pH level can burn anyone who comes into contact with it (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Natron Lake One of Africa’s most tranquil – and terrifying – lakes may be found in Tanzania.
Anyone or anything unfamiliar with the lake’s alkaline water, which has a pH as high as 10.5, may suffer burns to their skin and eyes.
The sodium carbonate and other minerals that pour into the lake from the surrounding hills contribute to the levels.
According to Live Science, the Egyptians employed sodium carbonate as part of the mummification process because it functions as a natural preservative.
The lake is bright red due to the bacteria inside (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
When an unfortunate animal drowns, calcification happens – calcium salts begin to accumulate in the bodily tissue.
Preserving the body and giving the impression the animal has turned to stone.
As if the lake wasn’t creepy enough, the water is brilliant red and incredibly heated due to the abundance of microorganisms in it.
The salts in the water preserve the body (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Previously, wildlife photographer Nicholas Brandt captured some heartbreaking photographs of the lake’s dead animals.
According to the publication, he wrote in his book Across the Ravaged Land: “I unexpectedly found the creatures — all manner of birds and bats — washed up along the shoreline of Lake Natron.
“No one knows for certain exactly how they die, but … the water has an extremely high soda and salt content, so high that it would strip the ink off my Kodak film boxes within a few seconds.”
The lake has been called one of the most serene in Africa (Image: Getty Images)
“I took these creatures as I found them on the shoreline, and then placed them in ‘living’ positions, bringing them back to ‘life,’ as it were.
“Reanimated, alive again in death.”