You're running from a volcanic eruption.
You fall into a hot lake.
The water burns your skin and eyes.
How can a place so dangerous even exist?
Located in North Tanzania
on the Kenyan border,
this red and pink lake
is famous for turning animals into stone.
Egyptians used sodium carbonate
to mummify their dead rulers,
and the same chemical preserves animals
that die in Lake Natron.
Today, we'll see why you should never
trust anything that thrives here.
The high amount of natron,
which is sodium carbonate
and baking soda,
gives this lake its name.
It also makes the water highly alkaline.
The lake's water can have
a pH as high as 10.5,
which is almost as alkaline as ammonia.
If it gets in your eyes,
this water could make you blind.
A good way to protect yourself
from highly alkaline water
is by wearing a polyethylene suit.
Even outside the water,
you could be in danger.
The air around the lake
contains ammonia,
and breathing it can harm your eyes,
throat and lungs.
The ammonia in the atmosphere
is highest from September to November,
so avoid Lake Natron
during those months.
To survive,
get away from the area,
remove your clothes
and wash your body with soap and water.
These blue-green algae
are microscopic organisms
whose blooms create
the red color in the lake.
Ingesting or inhaling these toxic blooms
can cause diarrhea,
vomiting and breathing problems.
If you inhale,
ingest or touch the cyanobacteria,
its toxins or harmful gasses,
take off your contaminated clothing,
wash your skin
and rinse your eyes with saline fluid.
Lake Natron's temperature
ranges from 40 °C (104 °F)
to 60 °C (140 °F).
The hot water can raise
your body temperature past 40 °C (104 °F).
It's called hyperthermia
and can lead to dizziness,
weakness and heat stroke.
You'll need to get out
of the water immediately,
go to a cooler area and rehydrate.
You'd better get out of there fast,
or you could pass out and drown.
The lake contains a high level
of sodium chloride
or salt.
If you drink a lot of salt water,
your body will try to maintain
its blood pressure
by constricting its blood vessels.
This might make you feel nauseous,
weak or delirious.
You'll need to drink
plenty of fresh water to hydrate.
If you don't,
your brain and other organs
will receive less blood,
causing organ failure,
coma or even death.
The Ol Doinyo Lengai is an active volcano
south of Lake Natron.
It emits a rare volcanic rock
that's rich in sodium,
potassium and calcium carbonate.
The volcano has some of the
fastest-flowing lava in the world.
Wear pants and a shirt with long sleeves
when you go to Lake Natron.
Also, bring a respirator and goggles.
If the volcano erupts,
get to high ground and take cover.
Avoid pyroclastics like rocks and debris.
Pink flamingos rule the lake.
Glands in their head
remove salt from the water,
and scales protect their legs.
They're not usually dangerous,
but flamingos will attack
if they feel threatened.
These birds will use
their sharp, curved beaks
and long claws to scratch you.
They're most likely to be aggressive
during the breeding season.
If you need to defend yourself,
try hitting the legs
or knocking the bird off balance.
Surviving Lake Natron was a challenge.
But believe it or not,
this is not the deadliest lake on Earth.
Other lakes in Africa
connect to underground magma
or liquid rock.
If they explode,
they could kill thousands of people
in minutes.
Learn more about these killer lakes,
right here.