World of the Fire Bird | Flamingo Facts | The Great Rift Valley | Resources

Dotted with volcanoes, both active and extinct, Africa's Great Rift Valley spreads southward from Ethiopia, through Kenya, and into Tanzania. This huge crack, caused by a series of faults in the earth's crust, began forming some 20 million years ago. At its highest point, the rift reaches 6,200 feet above sea level; elsewhere, it plunges below 1,900 feet. The valley's unique appearance is increased by constant puffs of steam, both from hot springs and from dormant volcanic vents called caldera.

For example, when a lake in the valley is flooded, the water, heated underground, can reach a scalding 140 degrees.

In addition to providing food and breeding space for millions of flamingoes, the soda lakes of the valley also hold great commercial value. Sodium carbonate is a major ingredient in the making of glass, ceramics, and paper. When a lake dries up, it leaves behind a crust that is harvested and trucked to exporting stations. The lake surface becomes a crystalline mass, and workers can walk directly on top.

Another favored foraging spot for flamingoes is Lake Nakuru in Kenya, located near the Menengai crater. The flamingo population here can grow to include millions of birds, all inhabiting the lake at one time. The centerpiece of the Lake Nakuru National Park, this soda lake is known to dry up for long periods of time. Environmental groups point to local agriculture and industrial development as a possible cause. Whatever the reason, Nakuru loses its temporary resident birds when the lake can no longer support them.

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