The story of a place
A remote lake landscape central to both ecology and human origins.
Lake Turkana occupies an immense arid setting in northern Kenya and the wider border region. Volcanic islands, shores and fossil-bearing landscapes contribute different parts of its significance.
This entry is geographically broad. The UNESCO parks, inhabited shores and palaeoanthropological sites are not one easily combined excursion and require distinct planning.
The essential experience
Make time for this.
Explore a carefully chosen, officially accessible part of the lake region with informed local support.
Explore the highlights
Look a little closer.
Lake Turkana’s remote shoreline connects volcanic ground with a landscape of human origins.
Lake colour
Notice the contrast with surrounding arid land.
Volcanic forms
Look for islands and shore structures.
Fossil context
The importance lies in geological layers and evidence, not casual collecting.
For the curious reader
History, landscape
and context.
Lake Turkana is a saline lake in the Kenyan Rift Valley, predominantly in northern Kenya; the far northern end crosses into Ethiopia. It is the world's largest permanent desert lake and the world's largest alkaline lake. By volume it is the world's fourth-largest salt lake after the Caspian Sea, Issyk-Kul, and Lake Van (passing the shrinking South Aral Sea), and among all lakes it ranks 22nd. Lake Turkana is now threatened by the construction of the Gilgel Gibe III Dam in Ethiopia due to the damming of the Omo River which supplies most of the lake's water.
Background reading: an abridged extract from Lake Turkana, by Wikipedia contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Paragraphs have been selected and shortened for this guide. Retrieved 22 September 2026. Source revision ↗.
Turn curiosity into a visit
Plan your visit.
- Physical demands
- Remote travel, heat and variable roads.
- The practical detail
- Do not attempt to combine distant shores based only on how close they look on a world map.
Before you set off.
Your ticks stay in this browser.Through the seasons
A place in the world
Find your bearings.
Select the pin to open a detailed map. Use Closer look to see the surrounding region. Drag to move a zoomed map.
Map: Natural EarthA closer view.
Load the local map to explore the surrounding area. Map tiles require an internet connection.
- 1Lake TurkanaOpen directions ↗ · Location reference ↗
A sense of place
In pictures.
Keep looking.
10 photographs, with full-size views and individual credits.
Go a little further
Sources & further reading.
The UNESCO link names the specific inscribed property. A broad entry in this project can extend beyond that property’s boundaries.
