The Rift Valley is home to thirty active and dormant volcanoes as well as numerous hot springs and large lakes along its length. This string of alkaline lakes and boiling springs northwest of Nairobi includes Lake Baringo, Lake Bogoria, Lake Nakuru, Lake Elementaita, Lake Naivasha and Lake Magadi to the southeast.

These lakes are unique because their waters are highly concentrated sodium carbonate. Several species of fish, particularly tilapia, thrive in this environment. As a result, millions of birds flock to these soda lakes to feast on the abundant food supply of fish and algae.

Each of the lakes in the Rift Valley string have a slightly different water composition ranging from freshwater to extremely alkaline, highly saline to brackish.