Let me start by saying something.

On this show, we love a mysterious lake.

In episode 201, we took you to Lake Carache in Russia, this top secret dumping ground

for nuclear waste.

In episode 155, we visited Lake Nios in Cameroon, the site of this tragic lake explosion,

an accident that triggered a scientific detective mission.

And today, you guessed it, we are going to another strange and unusual lake.

This lake is in Tanzania, and it spreads across this vast picturesque valley.

It's nestled next to an act of volcano, and yes, this one also has a hint of danger.

The first ornithologist who tried to walk out there almost died, and I've walked out

the lake with a friend who got really bad welts and burns on his skin.

But here is an amazing thing about this lake.

The lake, which can leave welts and burns on human skin, turns out to be a kind of paradise

for another animal.

And we're not talking about crocodiles or some other ultra-tough reptile.

So for these animals, think less teenage mutant Ninja Turtle, and more law and ornament.

That's right, we're talking flamingos.

I'm Dylan Thoris, and this is Atlas Obscura, a celebration of the world's strange, incredible

and wondrous places.

And today, we're headed to northern Tanzania, and we're going to Lake Natron, flamingo

paradise.

That's after this.

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