Residents in the Gordon’s Bay Area were treated to an unforgettable show as the beach came alive with bright blue lights on Sunday, February 16.
Local Jézelle Fourie shared her experience of the amazing occurrence on Facebook expressing how memorable it was.
Bikini Beach was filled with a subtle blue hue as the waves crashed in gorgeous luminescent flashes.
Bioluminescence is a unique natural phenomenon where a living organism emits or produces light. A common example of this is seen in fireflies, although this phenomenon occurs widely in marine vertebrates and invertebrates alike. The light produced is called a ‘cold light’, meaning that less than 20% of the light generates heat or thermal radiation.
Gordon’s Bay is not the only place that glows blue every now and then. This occurrence takes place in other areas including Fish Hoek and usually happens during the summer months. The same bright light show happened last year in Kogel Bay.
Follow Eric Nathan at @ericnathanphotography on Instagram to see more of his awesome images.
A type of plankton called bioluminescent dinoflagellates are tiny organisms that cause the surface of the ocean to glow a bright blue at night. The ecosystems where these creatures live are rare and are mostly found in warm lagoons or bays where these unique lifeforms gather.
Gordon’s Bay is not the only place that glows blue every now and then. This occurrence takes place in other areas including Fish Hoek and usually happens during the summer months. The same bright light show happened last year in Kogel Bay.
Follow Eric Nathan at @ericnathanphotography on Instagram to see more of his awesome images.
Also Read: Water glows bright blue in Fish Hoek
Pictures: Eric Nathan Photography