Final answer:
The world's largest permanent desert lake in Kenya's Rift Valley, notable for its abundance of hominin remains, is Lake Turkana. This area is significant for the study of human evolution and has been the site of important fossil discoveries.
Step-by-step explanation:
The lake in Kenya's Rift Valley, which is noted as the world's largest permanent desert lake and rich in hominin remains, is Lake Turkana. This area is significant in the study of evolution due to its preservation of biological remains, including important fossils and bones of hominid species, such as the notable australopithecine skeleton nicknamed "Lucy" discovered by anthropologist Donald Johanson. Lake Turkana's location in the Great Rift Valley has played a crucial role in its geological and biological history, supporting a diverse array of aquatic and terrestrial life.
Due to the shifting of tectonic plates, the Great Rift Valley exists as a geologic trench that spans a vast portion of East Africa, and has given rise to many large lakes, like Lake Victoria and Lake Tanganyika. These lakes have been pivotal in providing insights into evolutionary biology, evident from the extraordinary variety of species found there, such as the nearly 500 species of cichlids in Lake Victoria. They also offer crucial resources to the surrounding populations, with waters from lakes like Tanganyika supporting millions.
Renowned anthropologists like Richard and Mary Leakey have contributed significantly to our understanding of early human evolution through their work in this region. Hominid remains dating back to about 10 million years ago have been unearthed in the northern reaches of the Great Rift Valley, particularly in the Olduvai Gorge. Such discoveries have affirmed the area's long-standing role as a cradle for early hominid species.