Kenya
Lake Turkana
Lake Turkana by Roman Bruehwiler
The Lake Turkana National Parks provide an important stopping point for migratory birds and holds fossil and geological records that have brought an understanding of its paleo-environment.
The parks consist of Sibiloi National Park and two islands on Lake Turkana (South Island and Central Island). They contain both animal and hominid fossils in the Koobi Fora deposits which are unique in the world. The parks also are a breeding ground for the Nile crocodile, hippopotamus, and snakes.
Community Perspective: more romantically known as the Jade Sea, the area is characterized by a constant fight for survival against drought and starvation.
Site Info
Official Information
- Full Name
- Lake Turkana National Parks (ID: 801)
- Country
- Kenya
- Status
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Inscribed 1997
Site history
History of Lake Turkana
- WHS Type
- Natural
- Criteria
- viii
- x
Links
- UNESCO
- whc.unesco.org
All Links
UNESCO.org
- whc.unesco.org — whc.unesco.org/
Related Resources
- kws.go.ke — The official site for Sibiloi National Park
News Article
- Dec. 4, 2024 newscientist.com — Footprints preserved on the shore of Lake Turkana in Kenya seem to be from two ancient human species
- March 4, 2019 cbsnews.com — Kenya helicopter crash leaves 4 Americans and a local pilot dead
- March 8, 2016 newsecuritybeat.org — An Update on Kenya’s Dwindling Lake Turkana as Ethiopian Dam Begins Operation
- June 26, 2015 huffingtonpost.com — Will the World Take Action to Stop the Destruction of Lake Turkana?
- Dec. 15, 2013 globalpost.com — Lake Turkana could become another Aral Sea disaster from 2014
- Aug. 12, 2011 sudantribune.com — Ethiopian officials reject UN calls to suspend controversial dam project affecting Kenya's Lake Turkana
- July 28, 2011 nation.co.ke — UN calls for suspension of giant Ethiopian hydropower dam, said to endanger the existence of Lake Turkana.
Community Information
- Community Category
- Paleontology: Non-hominid fossils
- Natural landscape: Rivers, Wetlands and Lakes
- Religious structure: Christian
Travel Information
Recent Connections
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Name changes
At extension, from "Sibiloi/Central Isl… -
Over 300 bird species
over 350 recorded species of aquatic an… -
Hippos
"The island parks are the breeding habi…
Connections of Lake Turkana
- Individual People
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Visited by Nicolas Hulot
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Leakey Family
Lake Turkana Koobi Fora research involved Richard and is now headed by Meave and Louise Leakey.
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- Geography
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Volcanic Cone
Nabuyatom Cone -
Lakes located in Rift Valleys
Great Rift Valley -
Notable lakes
6,405 km?
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- Trivia
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Fatal Accidents or 'disasters'
5 dead in helicopter crash in Central Island National Park (March 3, 2019)See www.cbsnews.com
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Total Solar Eclipse since Inscription
3 November, 2013
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- History
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Early Hominid Remains
Human fossils (at Koobi Fora) include the remains of Australopithecus robustus, Homo habilis, Homo erectus and Homo sapiens.
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- Ecology
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Ratites
Somali ostrich -
Crocodiles
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Bird Migrations
Migrant waterbirds -
Endorheic Lakes
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Flamingos
Flamingos here are found in a small circular crater lake known as lake flamingo. -
Somalia-Masai regional centre of endemism
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Fossils
The geology and fossil record represents major stages of earth history including records of life represented by hominid discoveries (OUV) -
Over 300 bird species
over 350 recorded species of aquatic and terrestrial birds (OUV Crit X) -
Hippos
"The island parks are the breeding habitats of the Nile crocodile, Crocodylus niloticus, the hippopotamus amphibious and several snake species." (OUV)
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- Damaged
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'Threatened' by Dams
(Gibe III Dam under construction on the Omo River in Ethiopia, which flows into the Site) -
Poaching
for bush meat and trophies (zebra)
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- World Heritage Process
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Extended
2001: To include South Island National Park -
Natural sites rejected for cultural criteria
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- WHS on Other Lists
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U.S. Ambassadors Fund
Preservation of the Cultural Heritage of the Lake Turkana Region in Northern Kenya (2007) -
World Biosphere Reserves
Mount Kulal recognised as a Biosphere Reserve under the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Programme (700,000 ha. Includes South Island and the waters of Lake Turkana). (UNEP-WCMC) -
IUCN Conservation Outlook Assessment Critical
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- Timeline
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Early Pleistocene
oldest hominid remains are 2 million years old -
Pliocene
This property's main geological features stem from the Pliocene and Holocene periods (4million to 10,000 years old). (Nom file)
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- WHS Names
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Named after a Lake
Lake Turkana -
Name changes
At extension, from "Sibiloi/Central Island National Parks" to "Lake Turkana National Parks"
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News
- newscientist.com 12/04/2024
- Footprints preserved on the shore …
- cbsnews.com 03/04/2019
- Kenya helicopter crash leaves 4 A…
- newsecuritybeat.org 03/08/2016
- An Update on Kenya’s Dwindling Lak…
Recent Visitors
Reserved for members.Community Reviews
Show full reviews
Visited September 2005.
As I was born in Kenya, it holds a special place in my heart. The Northern Frontier District or NFD has always been seen as a very wild place and certainly not for the faint-hearted to visit.
Lake Turkana itself has gone by many names, initially Lake Rudolph and the more romantic Jade Sea.
Life for the local tribes people is a constant fight for survival against drought and starvation. Camels and goats are the only animals able to survive these conditions.
Lake Turkana is absolutely huge and you could spend many weeks traversing its shores. Of particular interest to the adventurous soul are the Volcanic islands which have their own lakes within them. Hiring a reliable boat is essential as it gets very rough out on this mini sea.
Also of great interest to human history are the archaeological finds that have been made along its eastern shore.
Finally their are the immensely interesting tribes people who inhabit its shores. Regularly in conflict with one another over the limited resources available it is always good to keep abreast of travel advisories, and particularly in respect of somali incursions. Some of the local practices such as female circumcision may make you cringe and witch doctors still hold sway over modern medicine.
The best way to visit as we did, is with a small group of people led by an experienced guide/driver/mechanic.
If you want to see an Africa which …
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