Eastern side of Lake Turkana formerly Lake Rudolf Northern Kenya East Africa South Island can be seen across the lake framed under the branch of a commiphora bush This is stony desert country with a pile of black lava boulders in the middle of the scene This is the most northerly of Kenyas chain of Rift Valley lakes and is the longest alkaline lake in the world It contains sodium carbonate which encourages the growth of spirulina or blue green algae which is the favourite diet of flamingos Fish including Nile perch are abundant in the Lake which supports the largest surviving population of Nile crocodiles Because of the algae the lake is often green and is sometimes known as the Jade Sea It was formerly called Lake Rudolf after the explorer Lake Turkana South Island Jade sea commiphora
