Soda lake

Soda or soda lakes are lakes with unusually high pH values ​​and at the same time a high salt content.

The alkaline medium is mainly caused by sodium salts such as sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate. The salts accumulate in endorheic lakes in the presence of the appropriate geological conditions (eg, carbonate rocks or volcanic activity) and high evaporation rates. Therefore soda lakes can be found especially in semi-deserts and steppes. The most famous soda lake is Lake Natron in Tanzania. But even in North America, Asia and South Eastern Europe will find this type of water.

Soda lakes are often rich in biomass. Due to the high pH values ​​and salt concentrations, the organisms living here are alkaliphilic or alkali- tolerant, and halophilic. The few thereto specialized bacteria, archaea and algae can multiply en masse and in some cases lead to vision depths of only a few centimeters. Therefore, some soda lakes are among the most productive ecosystems in the world. Some of the unicellular photosynthesis using intensely colored pigments. These micro-organisms and not the dissolved salts are responsible for the unique colors of many soda lakes. In three East African soda lakes specially adapted species of fish are, the Sodacichliden ( Alcolapia ).

Some soda lakes used for the recovery of natural soda.

Examples

  • Elmenteitasee

Laguna de Urao, a Lake Natron in the state of Mérida, Venezuela.

Lake Neusiedl is a European soda lake.

Lake Van in Turkey.

The Turkana in East Africa.

The Langano is also located in the Rift Valley.

Lake Nakuru in Kenya.

The Mono Lake in California.

  • Still waters
595040
de