Soda Lakes of East Africa
This book is devoted to the alkaline-saline lakes of East Africa, which include the world-famous “flamingo lakes”. It covers the full range of issues, from the lakes’ origin and history, life in and around these unique water bodies, to utilization, threat
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Soda Lakes of East Africa
Soda Lakes of East Africa
.
Michael Schagerl Editor
Soda Lakes of East Africa
Editor Michael Schagerl Department of Limnology and Bio-Oceanography University of Vienna Vienna Austria
ISBN 978-3-319-28620-4 ISBN 978-3-319-28622-8 DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-28622-8
(eBook)
Library of Congress Control Number: 2016949068 # Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. Printed on acid-free paper This Springer imprint is published by Springer Nature The registered company is Springer International Publishing AG Switzerland
Preface
It was around 16 years ago, when I got the opportunity to take my first small steps in Kenya. I remember so well the flurry of excitement for this “unknown” continent and my first visit to Baringo/Bogoria. After fortifying myself with the traditional foods Njama Joma and Samaki, I put on my sandals for night sampling because of the hot temperatures, but was fortunately stopped just in time by a local resident who carefully lifted up stones and showed me—the “mzungu” (Swahili word for white people)—some scorpions and dangerous centipedes. On the next day, we travelled to Bogoria, and an astounding new world opened itself up to me: heat, geysers, hundreds of thousands of flamingos, the characteristic pungent smell of the soda lake, the soapy water, and an incredibly vast amount of the cyanoprokaryote Arthrospira. This switched a button in me and I decided on the spot to focus on these astonishing systems. I am quite sure that I share this experience with the authors of this book. It is a privilege to work in systems where tourists spend their holidays, and we scientists are often envied for our workplaces. Of course, unforgettable moments are inseparably linked to such sites, but we also face a wide range of challenges and hardships. Very basic accommodations, heat, wild and dangerous animals, bad roads with terrible traffic, and frequent power cuts impede the exhausti
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