Central Island, Volcanic island in Lake Turkana, Kenya

Central Island is a volcanic island rising from Lake Turkana in northern Kenya, home to three crater lakes formed by past eruptions. The island sits within a protected area and is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site covering the lake and its surroundings.

Central Island is a basaltic volcano whose youngest tuffs and lavas may date to the Holocene, according to Karson and Curtis (1992). Fumaroles along the NE-to-SE rim of the central crater released sulfur sprays observed by visitors in the 1930s, and in 1974 intense emissions of molten sulfur and steam clouds were seen from the mainland. The island became part of the UNESCO World Heritage site "Lake Turkana National Parks" in 1997.

Central Island is the main nesting ground for Nile crocodiles in Lake Turkana, with roughly 12,000 of them living around its crater lakes. The three crater lakes are named Crocodile Lake, Flamingo Lake and Tilapia Lake, and flamingos gather in large numbers at Flamingo Lake at times.

A permit from Kenya Wildlife Service is required to visit, and access is only possible by boat from the mainland. Starting the trip early in the day is a good idea, as weather on the lake can change fast and a local guide is strongly advisable.

Each of the three crater lakes on the island has a different water color: one appears green, one blue, and one nearly black, due to differences in mineral content and depth. This means three distinct ecosystems sit within walking distance of each other on the same small island.