Kenya

Lake Turkana

WHS Score 2.64 Votes 8 Average 3.25

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.

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Site Info

Official Information
Full Name
Lake Turkana National Parks (ID: 801)
Country
Kenya
Status
Inscribed 1997 Site history
History of Lake Turkana
WHS Type
Natural
Criteria
  • viii
  • x
Links
UNESCO
whc.unesco.org
All Links
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
No travel information
Recent Connections
View all (28) .
Connections of Lake Turkana
Individual People
Geography
Trivia
History
  • Early Hominid Remains
    Human fossils (at Koobi Fora) include the remains of Australopithecus robustus, Homo habilis, Homo erectus and Homo sapiens.
Ecology
Damaged
World Heritage Process
WHS on Other Lists
Timeline
  • 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)
WHS Names
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
First published: 31/12/19.

Richard Stone

Lake Turkana

Lake Turkana (Inscribed)

Lake Turkana by Richard Stone

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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