Lake Turkana

Lake Turkana, known as the “Jade Sea” for its striking turquoise waters, is a vast saline lake in northern Kenya’s Rift Valley. As the world’s largest permanent desert lake and largest alkaline lake, its harsh, volcanic landscape is a cradle of human prehistory, revealing crucial fossil discoveries. Its waters, sustained primarily by the Omo River, support resilient populations of Nile crocodiles and hippopotamuses. However, the lake faces significant environmental threats from upstream dams and climate change, which cause its water levels to fluctuate dramatically.