Lake Turkana

Lake Turkana is a very large lake.

It sits in northern Kenya. The far end of the lake reaches into Ethiopia.

The land there is very hot and dry. The water is a pretty jade color.

This color comes from tiny life in the water.

Many animals live near the lake. You can see Nile crocodiles on the shore.

Zebras also walk on the dry grass.

Many fish live in the lake too.

People catch these fish to help them live. Fishing is very important there.

It is a wild and special place. Do you want to visit this big lake?

Lake Turkana is a very special lake in northern Kenya.

The far end of the lake reaches into Ethiopia. It is the largest permanent desert lake in the world. It is also the largest alkaline lake on Earth. This means the water has many salts in it. The water is a beautiful jade color.

This color comes from tiny life called algae.

The land around the lake is hot and dry. Much of the area is a desert. Some parts have dry grass and small shrubs. You might see Grevy's zebras grazing there.

Many different people live near the lake. The Turkana people live there. They call the lake the "sea of many fish."

Many animals call this place home. Large Nile crocodiles live on the shores.

There are also many fish in the water.

Fishing is a very important job for local people. The lake is a wild and important place for nature.

Lake Turkana is a very special place in northern Kenya.

Its far northern end actually crosses into Ethiopia. It is a huge body of water in the East African Rift. This rift is a place where the Earth's crust is pulling apart. Because of this, the lake is the world's largest permanent desert lake. It is also the largest alkaline lake on Earth. This means the water has a lot of salt in it.

In fact, the water is more alkaline than seawater. The lake is famous for its beautiful jade color. This color comes from tiny living things called algae that float near the surface.

The lake stays filled by three main rivers. These are the Omo, Turkwel, and Kerio rivers. The Omo River is especially important because it supplies most of the water. However, the lake has no way for water to flow out. The only way water leaves the lake is through evaporation. This happens when the hot sun turns the water into vapor. Because of this, the size of the lake can change. Between 1975 and 1993, the water level actually fell. Today, a new dam on the Omo River in Ethiopia might change the water levels again.

People have known about this area for a very long time. Many different groups live near the shores. These include the Turkana, Rendille, and Samburu peoples. The Turkana people call the lake Anam Ka'alakol. This means "the sea of many fish." In 1888, two explorers named Count Sámuel Teleki and Ludwig Ritter Von Höhnel visited the lake. They were the first Europeans to record a visit there. They originally named it Lake Rudolf. Later, in 1975, the president of Kenya, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, renamed it Lake Turkana.

Many amazing animals live in and around the lake. Nile crocodiles are found in great numbers on the shore flats. There are also many fish, like the African arowana.

Fishing is a very important job for the people living nearby. In the dry grasslands, you might see Grevy's zebras grazing. Lions and cheetahs hunt in these same areas. Many different birds also visit the lake. Some birds, like the African skimmer, even build nests on Central Island.

Lake Turkana is a very important site for science. Many hominid fossils have been found in the land around the lake. These fossils help us learn about early humans. The area is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This means it is a place worth protecting for the whole world. The lake is very hard to reach by car. It is a two-day drive from the city of Nairobi. Even though it is remote, it remains a wild and vital part of nature. The lake connects to the Nile basin through its history and its animals. This makes it a truly unique part of our planet.

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.