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Animals are found cemented by salt on the shores of Lake Natron

In northern Tanzania, there is an example that nature, in addition to being fascinating, can also be a little terrifying. Lake Natron is a hostile environment for certain types of animals as it has salt and alkaline water that reaches 60°C and has a very high pH (between 9 and 10.55). The culprit of this is the Ol Doinyo Lengai stratovolcano, a type of volcano that is rare in nature that emits carbonate lavas. Aided by the rain, the ashes from the volcano fell into the lake, leading to the creation of a different type of salt than those found in the seas. It leaves a mixture of salts and minerals (called natron, a substance used by the Egyptians in the mummification process) when the water evaporates.

When an animal falls into the lake, either by trying to cross it or by not having the perception of proximity (due to the reflection), it has two destinations: either it ends up decomposing in its waters or, with the rapid evaporation of the water due to the high temperature , end up on the shores of the lake, coated with salt - but the aspect is well preserved, despite being dry. It was on one of his trips that photographer Nick Brandt found these statues "cemented by salt". According to an email from the photographer to NBC News, he placed them in positions common to living birds in order to "bring them back to life".

Despite the hostile environment, Lake Natron has algae, invertebrates and some fish in the less salty regions, as well as being the only regular place where the small flamingos breed. It is precisely these harsh conditions that allow them to mate, and the more salty the water, the greater the amount of cyanobacteria that feed them. Even in the best years, not everyone survives.

Check out more photos of Nick Brandt below: