Lake Natron is a salt and soda lake located north of Ngorongoro crater near the Kenyan border, in the Great Rift Valley with extreme alkalinity since some of its water leaks through the lava flow of the nearby active volcanic mountain Ol Doinyo Lengai (The mountain of God in maasai language). This salty water lake covers an area of 56km long, and 24km wide but the water level changes due to evaporation. At times, there are several hundred thousand flamingos on and near the lake making for a wonderful spectacle. Lake Natron is one of the most important breeding grounds for lesser flamingos in the world despite the highly alkaline state of striking red water. The weather is significantly hotter here than at most other northern Tanzania destinations but the scenery is striking unlike anywhere else.