THE GREAT RIFT VALLEY IN KENYA

Great Rift Valley was formed about 20 million years ago, the earth's crust weakened and tore itself apart creating a jagged rift valley, approximately 6,000 kilometers (3,700 mi) in length, that runs from northern Syria in Southwest Asia to central Mozambique in East Africa, The land on either side erupted creating great volcanic mountains, while the valley floor gradually sank into a low flat plain. This geologic phenomena, dubbed the Great Rift Valley by the Scottish explorer John Walter Gregory who named it in late 19 th century, It is one of Kenya's characteristic features and divides the country in half, from north to south, with stunning panoramas and beautiful escarpment backdrops. This string of alkaline lakes and boiling springs in Kenya rift valley includes Lake Baringo, Lake Bogoria, Lake Nakuru, Lake Elementaita, Lake Naivasha, and Lake Magadi in the south. These lakes in Kenya are unique because their water is highly concentrated sodium carbonate. This creates an ideal breeding ground for algae and a thriving environment for fish, which in turn attracts millions of birds to feed on the abundant food supply. Each of the Kenya lakes has a different water composition ranging from freshwater to very saline and brackish, with different bird life attracted to each. This situation is caused by the high alkalinity from the surrounding volcanic rocks coupled with poor drainage outlets due to the steep sides of the valley. The high evaporation of the surface lake water results in sodium carbonate which, in turn, creates an ideal breeding ground for algae, also some different fish species in habits the lake for example tilapia grahami ,nile pearch among others.

JNK- Kenya Safaris desk

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