Danish coast dazzles with glowing algae phenomenon
Residents of Denmark witnessed an otherworldly sight. The waters of the local fjords and bays lit up with glowing algae that shine in the dark. The evening was warm, so tourists eagerly jumped into the water.
2:56 PM EDT, September 11, 2024
The fairy-tale aura on the Danish coast was made possible by a light phenomenon known as morild. It is caused by bioluminescent algae present in the water. These microscopic organisms emit intense blue light when moved.
Tourists swam in the glowing sea
On Sunday, September 8, the phenomenon was observed in several Danish ports, including Aarhus, Roskilde, and Veddelev. The water temperature in the Baltic Sea was nearly 68°F, so many tourists took advantage of the rare opportunity to swim amongst the glowing algae. It's worth noting that contact with these organisms does not pose a health risk.
Photos were posted online showing tourists swimming in the water, surrounded by blue, glowing spots of marine algae. Admittedly, it looked truly cosmic!
Hot nights favored the appearance of glowing algae
Warm temperatures favor the formation of glowing spots, which is why these algae are often observed in the summer. According to the Danish portal Avisen Denmark, the first week of September was exceptionally hot, so the conditions decidedly favored the occurrence of this phenomenon.
Meteorologists emphasize that tropical nights have never occurred so late in Denmark.
