Have you ever seen a beach glow in the dark? This is what happened at Fountainstown beach in County Cork, Ireland, on Sunday night. The beach was invaded by bioluminescent plankton… which had the effect of making the beach fluoresce overnight! As a result, the water took on an astonishing, almost unnatural bright blue color. An unusual show that attracted a lot of people!
The phenomenon is rare, but quite normal. Don’t look for human intervention here: the explanation is 100% natural.
Fountainstown beach has been decked out in fluorescent blue, thanks in no small part to bioluminescent marine plankton. It’s a microscopic organism living suspended in the sea and ocean.
The latter has the strange characteristic of lighting itself when in motion. As it moves, it takes on bright, magical colors. The result is an extraordinary show, where each wave brings its own special light!
Fountainstown beach illuminated by plankton
It really was an incredible sight,” said photographer Joleen Cronin, who was present at the event at the time.
Many locals turned out for the occasion, even taking a dip to enjoy the phenomenon. For many, seeing these fluorescent blue sparks moving towards them was a unique experience.
And we understand!
Unfortunately, the phenomenon was short-lived, occurring only on Sunday night. Since then, some locals have been watching the shoreline in the evenings… But the plankton seems to have deserted the area… Nevertheless, the phenomenon could well happen again: so be patient, and head for the beach at the first sign if you want to experience an unusual moment like this!
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