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Sydney, Australia beaches closed due to rare red algae bloom (14 Photos)

November 29, 2012 | In: Interesting, Nature, Travel

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: Due to a bizarre naturally occurring algae, many Australian beaches were closed for a day. Red blooms such as these can be a hazard to swimmers due to high levels of ammonia contained in the algae which can cause rashes and eye irritation. The thick bloom was caused by noctiluca scintillans, a dinoflagellate marine algae that is also called “Sea Sparkle”, because it exhibits bioluminescence. But all that is a really technical way of saying that it makes the water look red.

http://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.davis.3998 Elizabeth Davis

I wonder if this could be an explanation for one of the plagues "water turned to blood".
Christoffer

"That's quite a view…"
"Yes it is… quite a view"
The Occupant

Makes you wonder if a similar thing happening in the Nile was the origin of that particular biblical plague in Egypt.
Carlos

Diatoms a bacteria that can cause red tides in large quanitities. can make shellfish poisonous and cause whales to become confused and beach themsevels

Serinanth

Diatoms are phytoplankton, not bacteria.

Bobby

how you gonna find nemo now?
Dconlon

When the river runs red, take the Hershey highway
http://www.facebook.com/allister.m.blossfeld Allister Michael Dodgson Blossfeld

I'm pretty sure that's Manly beach, it's only the manliest one around. Unfortunately it looks like it's having a sick day.
http://unrealitymag.com/index.php/2012/11/29/the-final-countdown-directors-who-should-have-quit-tarantinos-wish-and-tv-show-movies/ The Final Countdown: Directors Who Should Have Quit, Tarantino’s Wish and TV Show Movies |

[...] Algae makes water run blood red – [TheChive] [...]
lebelge

Wasn't there something in the bible about the water will turn to blood, or something? maybe this apocalypse is real…I'm not going to buy into the hype.
http://www.facebook.com/edward.scott.3110 Edward Scott

The river will run red with Burgundy's blood!!!!!!
Dale

It's not Sydney, it's not Manly beach. It's Lorne in Victoria not far from Bells Beach

muz

I think you might need to check out the news, It is Nsw. The beaches that were closed are North Wollongong beach on Thursday and Clovelly, Bronte and Tamarama, Bilgola, Mona Vale, Palm Beach and Newport and there was some of the red algae also spotted at Newcastle.

Schwienstiega

Saving Private Ryan
http://www.About.com Bobby R.

Red slime algae is actually not a "true" algae at all, but classified as a cyanobacteria. Often considered to be the evolutionary link between bacteria and algae, cyanobacteria are one of the oldest forms of life on earth and date back at least 3.5 billion years. These organisms produce oxygen as a byproduct of photosynthesis, and scientists believe that if it weren't for this microscopic organism, there would be no blue skies on Earth. Link http://www.About.com information citied from…. http://www.about.com EXT aquariums.

Serinanth

Nitrogen makes the sky blue.

VanCan

#12: Bird is like, what the heck?
Daniel

I learned about this in Marine Biology class. I think recognizing this Chive post might be the most productive thing to come from that class.

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