Thursday, March 24, 2011

Lake lights up at night

I found these pictures of a lake that glows in the dark at night. I thought it was pretty cool.

What happens to lakes in an area hit by forest fires and floods? Some will glow in the dark.
For a cluster of lakes in Australia's eastern Victoria, the combination of the fire and then the rain washed ash and nitrogen-rich soil into the water. The Gippsland Lakes experienced a rise in sea level. That caused the lakes to mix with sea water, which also raised the salinity.
This recipe led to the introduction of a species of algae called Noctiluca scintillans, commonly known as "sea sparkle." The bioluminescent brew gave the water a nocturnal glow.



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