xix THE RIFT VALLEY AND ITS LAKES 249 



white with guano deposited by them. Xe;ir this side of 

 the lake there is a large mud plain where the flamingoes 

 make their nests unmolested by man. The mounds of 

 mud which represent their nests appear like innumerable 

 mole-hills. 



When these huge flocks of birds are disturbed and 

 they get up suddenly out of the shallow guano-laden 

 water, the stench is overpowering. 



Lake It mini/. This lake, which lies at the northern 

 end of the Rift Valley, is kidney-shaped and measures 

 along the curved axis 185 miles : its greatest width is 

 about 35 miles. The altitude of the lake is 1250 feet. 

 Although the water is brackish it is drinkable ; as its 

 salinity is due to soda it can be made palatable and effer- 

 vescent by the addition of tartaric acid. Ludwig von 

 Hohnel, the scribe of Count Teleki's interesting expedi- 

 tion which led to the discovery and investigation of this 

 lake, describes the great enthusiasm with which the 

 thirsty porters rushed to the lake after a terribly trying 

 journey and their bitter disappointment at finding the 

 water brackish and the districts surrounding the south- 

 ern end of the lake uninhabited. Subsequently the 

 water was found to be drinkable though brackish, and it 

 had a peculiar lye-like taste. They then concluded that 

 it contained soda, and on pouring tartaric acid into the 

 water it effervesced strongly. This improved the taste 

 considerably, and it quenched their thirst more quickly 

 than fresh water could have done. 



The southern portion of the lake is surrounded by 

 high cliffs, and a rugged lava-strewn, bare, and uninha- 

 bited country. There is also an active volcano, Mount 

 Teleki. Like other large lakes it is liable to storms, and 

 on such occasions the waves striking on the beach roar 

 like the sea. 



Near the south end of the lake there is an island, 

 ten miles long, consisting of sixteen extinct vol- 

 canoes. There are other islets n earing the middle 

 of the lake some of -which are inhabited. Lake Rudolf 



