Where is Lake Rudolf? Photo and description
There are many mysterious places on our planet thatpeople bypass. Mystic corners have a bad reputation, but curious tourists visit the anomalous zones, trying to solve their secrets on their own. Such an ominous fame was acquired by the abandoned island Bezvozvratny located in the north of Kenya.
Lake Rudolph, which is the largesta water reservoir in Africa, is located next to an uninhabited local landmark that has killed many people. Before we begin the story of Lake Rudolf, we will stop at a mysterious island where for many years no one lives.
The mystery of the loss of scientists
A strange incident occurred in 1935,when an ethnographic expedition from Great Britain worked in Kenya. Two scientists who came to the island to study the life of the tribe who lived here, each day, sent signals to their colleagues. After they ceased, the troubled rescue team turned the ground upside down, but did not even find traces of the scientists' stay. Aborigines connected to the search, but all was in vain. Many years passed, and the mystery of the disappearance of people is still not disclosed.
Disappearing continues
Over time, this strange story was forgotten, anda small island appeared new inhabitants, tired of fighting with their neighbors. Members of the Elmolo tribe built an entire village, but one day their relatives, who came to visit close people, found no one. It seemed that all the inhabitants left the island overnight, without taking anything of value with them.
Two centuries ago, members of the German and Dutch expeditions disappeared, and in 1982 a couple of newlyweds who arrived here for a rest disappear without a trace.
Abandoned island
Specialists who dealt with the solution of the lossseveral dozen people, found that the first mention of the mysterious disappearances refers to the XVII century, when the uninhabited island was evicted by the natives. They were incredibly surprised by the oppressive silence: there were no birds or animals, only incomprehensible groans were heard on the full moon. Later, residents found that they could not get to some parts of the island because of the woven trees blocking the path. Then the aborigines began to die as a result of ridiculous accidents, and several days before the death of the inhabitants, obscure visions visited. They were frightened by creepy creatures, only remotely resembling people.
Soon the monsters materialized: they suddenly appeared before the natives, and those who could not escape, disappeared forever. When relatives who heard about the incidents visited the village, they did not find a single person. The island was completely empty.
Unanswered Questions
Scientists have suggested that everything is in the volcanicthe origin of the island: the poisonous fumes that are released through the clefts in the earth affect the psyche of people who run into real insanity and kill themselves. However, where their bodies go, no one can explain. And local people believe that there are gates in another dimension.
A reservoir more like a sea
Lake Rudolf, in the middle of which is spread outan abandoned island, is located in Africa. Most of it is in the territory of Kenya, and only the northern part belongs to Ethiopia. A reservoir of tectonic origin is considered the largest in the desert. Its dimensions are simply amazing, and tourists, who are not afraid of the bad reputation of this area, often confuse it with the sea.
A natural landmark, the area of whichexceeds 6.4 thousand square kilometers, was discovered in 1888 by the traveler S. Teleki, who named it in honor of the Austro-Hungarian Crown Prince. Lake Rudolph really resembles the seashore with high waves and long sandy beaches. Strong storms, occurring often enough, turn into a terrible element.
Later, when Kenya gained independence, the reservoirwas renamed in honor of one of the tribes that had inhabited its territory for a long time, and was called the Turkana (Lake Turkana). True, on many geographical maps it is designated by the same name.
Throughout the long history of its existencethe level of the natural phenomenon was changing: the deep Rudolph Lake, which lies in the east of the Great Rift Valley, spilled up to 400 kilometers in length and was reduced to modern sizes. It was surrounded by constantly erupting volcanoes, and the ashes settled in a thick layer at the bottom. Around the lake you can see basalt sediments of the most bizarre forms, which remind you that once they were flows of hot lava.
Lake Rudolph: salty or fresh?
Kenya's landmark isthe endless lake. The water in it stagnates, as a result of which the salts are not carried away by underground sources. It is unsuitable for drinking, and its rich jade shade, according to scientists, is associated with a high concentration of salts.
Peace-loving crocodiles
The main feature of the lake are crocodiles,possessing a fairly good-natured temper. Fiercely looking and reaching five meters in length, they do not rush to tourists. Predators, the number of which has exceeded 12 thousand individuals, do not touch hunters, and the fact is that their skin is not suitable for sewing handbags or shoes. Lake Rudolph - salty, and because of the huge amount of sodium carbonate on the skin of reptiles appeared ugly growths.
An Amazing Find
The main sensation was the discovery of archaeologists,who discovered on the northern coast of the natural pearl the remains of the most ancient man on earth, who lived several million years ago and already then moved on two rather than four limbs.
So the famous Lake Rudolph got even morepopularity. This area, which became an archaeological monument, was named Koobi Fora, and now it continues to be explored by scientists. Valuable exhibits found in this area are transferred to the National Museum of Kenya.
Ecological problems
Lake Rudolph in Africa, located in the middledesert, soon can disappear. The government of Ethiopia erects a dam on the river, which feeds the reservoir. Scientists regretfully predict that after a large-scale construction humanity is waiting for another environmental disaster.
The most unusual place on earth
In our article we learned where the lake is locatedRudolph and what secrets hides the nearby island. The dead desert landscape frightens and delight tourists. Many parts of the coast, on which there is no vegetation, are covered with frozen black lava.
However, the magnificent view of the lake is the presentpleasure for the eyes. A hard-to-reach place, protected by UNESCO, is loved by wildlife lovers who admit that this is one of the most unusual places in the world.