Fire Journal Entry
Fires Destroy Habitat in Kenya (March 17, 2008)
Satellite image shows smoke rising from big fire near Malibu in Southern California. NASA.
Fires scorched thousands of acres along the eastern shores of Lake Nakuru National Park in Kenya. The fires destroyed habitat of a wide variety of animals living around the big lake.
Lake Nakuru is famous for its big flocks of flamingoes. The colorful birds gather along the lake's edges to feed on cyanobacteria (also known as blue-green algae) in shallow water close to shore.
Marshes, forests, and grasslands around the lake are home to many kinds of large mammals, including giraffes, leopards, lions, and both white and black rhinos. It's not yet clear how the fires have affected this animal community.
The satellite picture above shows the extent of the burned area on the lake's eastern side. The city of Nakuru is visible northwest of the lake.
