Lake Logipi
Encyclopedia
Lake Logipi is a saline, alkaline lake
that lies at the northern end of the arid Suguta Valley in the northern Kenya
Rift. It is separated from Lake Turkana
by the Barrier volcanic complex, a group of young volcanoes that last erupted during the late 19th Century or early 20th Century. Saline hot springs discharge on the northern shoreline of Lake Logipi and at Cathedral Rocks near its southern limit, and help to maintain water at times of extreme aridity. During the rainy season, the lake is also recharged from the Suguta River which flows northward along the Suguta Valley, periodically forming a temporary lake (Lake Alablab) that unites with Logipi.
Lake Logipi has a maximum depth of 3 to 5 m, and is about 6 km wide by 3 km long. Its waters are of sodium bicarbonate composition with a pH
of 9.5-10.5 and salinity
(total dissolved salts) that varies from < 20 g/l to > 50 g/l. Efflorescent
salt crusts (trona
) are present around its margins. Flamingoes frequently inhabit the saline waters feeding on cyanobacteria (Arthrospira spp. - formerly termed Spirulina
) and other plankton.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
that lies at the northern end of the arid Suguta Valley in the northern Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
Rift. It is separated from Lake Turkana
Lake Turkana
Lake Turkana , formerly known as Lake Rudolf, is a lake in the Great Rift Valley in Kenya, with its far northern end crossing into Ethiopia. It is the world's largest permanent desert lake and the world's largest alkaline lake...
by the Barrier volcanic complex, a group of young volcanoes that last erupted during the late 19th Century or early 20th Century. Saline hot springs discharge on the northern shoreline of Lake Logipi and at Cathedral Rocks near its southern limit, and help to maintain water at times of extreme aridity. During the rainy season, the lake is also recharged from the Suguta River which flows northward along the Suguta Valley, periodically forming a temporary lake (Lake Alablab) that unites with Logipi.
Lake Logipi has a maximum depth of 3 to 5 m, and is about 6 km wide by 3 km long. Its waters are of sodium bicarbonate composition with a pH
PH
In chemistry, pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Pure water is said to be neutral, with a pH close to 7.0 at . Solutions with a pH less than 7 are said to be acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic or alkaline...
of 9.5-10.5 and salinity
Salinity
Salinity is the saltiness or dissolved salt content of a body of water. It is a general term used to describe the levels of different salts such as sodium chloride, magnesium and calcium sulfates, and bicarbonates...
(total dissolved salts) that varies from < 20 g/l to > 50 g/l. Efflorescent
Efflorescence
In chemistry, efflorescence is the loss of water of crystallization from a hydrated or solvated salt to the atmosphere on exposure to air.-Examples:...
salt crusts (trona
Trona
Trona ; Na3•2H2O is an evaporite mineral. It is mined as the primary source of sodium carbonate in the United States, where it has replaced the Solvay process used in most of the rest of the world for sodium carbonate production.- Etymology :The word "trona" comes to English by way of either...
) are present around its margins. Flamingoes frequently inhabit the saline waters feeding on cyanobacteria (Arthrospira spp. - formerly termed Spirulina
Spirulina (genus)
Spirulina is a genus of cyanobacteria. As a photosynthetic organism capable of fixing nitrogen, its non-protein nutrient values are relatively low. Spirulina is used in some foods for aquarium fish...
) and other plankton.