Art & Design / 13 October, 2017
Rainbow City
Pink Flamingos | Artists of Mother Earth
During the formation of the soda lakes in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley, much of the ground was covered in sodium carbonate rich, volcanic ash. Rain water percolating through the soil and rivers flowing over the rocks, absorbed and transported volcanic chemicals and mineral salts into the lakes. With reduced rainfall, the concentration of these salts is greater and typically produces more vivid colours. While the lakes are inhospitable to most life forms, flamingos thrive in them. The reason being that one plant species has adapted to cope with the challenging conditions, algae and in particular one species, Spirulina, commonly known as blue-green algae, the flamingos' principal food source. Flying around the edge of the lake, I passed over a giant pink cloud of Lesser Flamingos grouped tightly together in the mud and algae infused shallow waters of Lake Bogoria forming a veritable “Rainbow City”.
Over-All Winner. GDT 2018 - European Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
Lake Bogoria National Reserve
0°15’2” N | 36°05’60” E
Kenya