Lake Turkana, Salt lake in northern Kenya and Ethiopia.
Lake Turkana is a salt lake in northern Kenya and southern Ethiopia that stretches 249 kilometers with a width of 44 kilometers at its broadest point. It forms the largest permanent body of water of its kind in a desert region and sits in a tectonic trough surrounded by barren hills and volcanoes.
European explorers named it Lake Rudolf in 1888 in honor of the Austrian Crown Prince before Kenya later renamed it Turkana. The body of water formed thousands of years ago in the East African Rift and has served surrounding communities as a water source ever since.
The Turkana call it Anam Ka'alakol and have relied on its waters for generations to sustain their communities. Along the shore today, small settlements show fishermen spreading nets and drying catches on simple wooden frames.
The water is alkaline and not suitable for drinking, so travelers should bring enough fresh water. Access is mostly by dirt roads that become difficult in rain, and the intense heat requires sun protection and plenty of fluids.
Three volcanic islands rise from the water, with Central Island holding active craters that still release steam and occasional ash. The shorelines shift slowly because the basin has no outlet and evaporation is the only form of water loss.
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