Deadly Lake In Africa Transforms Birds Into Salt Sculptures
Lake Natron in Tanzania looks almost unreal, and Nick Brandt’s photographs make it even harder to look away. The salt lake is so harsh that very little can survive there, yet it has become known for the eerie birds found along its surface.
In this story, the striking images come from a place where extreme heat, intense salinity, and reflective water create a setting unlike almost anywhere else on Earth. Flamingos still nest nearby, but the lake’s conditions have also left behind birds that appear frozen in salt.
That unsettling contrast is what makes these photos so memorable. Read on.
It's unclear how these unfortunate birds died, but the photographer believes that a contributing factor is the lake's extreme reflectiveness. This could cause birds to crash into the water, die, and end up as calcified shells. The photographer found the birds while working on capturing Africa's vanishing wildlife. The birds were left as they were, except for the fact that the author posed them to create better pictures.
It is a haunting sight either way.
This reminds us of the bald eagle that went after a fish in Alaskan waters, snatching dinner right out of the water.
These images leave a lasting impression.
Want more optical-illusion chaos? See how a woman accidentally photographed an endangered bird’s strange trick.
Share this article:
