Lake Chala, also known as Dschalla<1> is a CRATER LAKE in a CALDER<2> on the borders of KENYA and TANZANIA on the eastern edge of Mount Kilimanjaro, 8 km north of Taveta and 55 km from the town of  MOSHI . Depending on the time of year, it ranges in colour from deep blue to turquoise and green, it is surrounded by a 100 metres high crater rim. The lake is fed by groundwater flows, which come from MOUNT KILIMANJARO, fed and drained under ground with a rate of about 10 million m³ / year.<3>Even the Chala loses volume. Its level had dropped in the last 6 years, by 2.4 metres, at the start of 2011 the water level has risen again by over 1 metre.
The lake is home to the endemic LAKE CHALA TILAPIA (Oreochromis hunteri),<4> which is now considered CRITICALLY ENDANGERED on the IUCN red list of threatened species<5>
Crocodiles were introduced to Lake Chala in the early 1900s, and in 2002, a woman was killed by a rare NILE CROCODILE  (Crocodylus niloticus) while swimming in the lake.<6> Since then the local fishermen, tired of having their nets ripped to pieces by the non-native crocodiles, started an eradication programme by shooting and poisoning. It is doubtful if any crocodiles remain in the lake today.<7>
This stunning<PEACOCK TERM] volcanic area is rapidly growing in tourism and it is now possible to stay at Lake Chala.