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Located in a remote region of Tanzania, in East Africa, Lake Natron is one of the most toxic places on Earth. Part of its toxicity is caused by the Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano, located on the lake’s southern coast. This active volcano expels a strange magma that’s rich in sodium and potassium carbonate. It’s known as natrocarbonatite, or natron. The magma flows into the water, making it extremely alkaline. And the desert’s salty rain soaks into it. Unlike other lakes, Lake Natron’s water doesn’t run to the sea or other streams. Instead, it evaporates, and the sodium stays behind. This increases the lake’s salinity, making it even more lethal. Most animals can’t survive these corrosive waters. If they fall in, they could die before touching the bottom of the lake.

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