From April through September, a type of algae commonly called ‘sea sparkle’ blooms along the coast of all 36 islands in the Matsu archipelago off the coast of Taiwan. An enzyme reaction in the algae’s single-cellular bodies creates the light-emitting chemical reaction. Locals call the natural light show ‘blue tears.’ Stranger still is that when the water is disturbed, the algae light up even brighter. If you want to see the blue tears of the Matsu Islands, there’s still time to book a trip—the bioluminescent effect is more common and more intense during the hot summer months.
The glowing waters of the Matsu Islands
Today in History
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Happy birthday to Crater Lake National Park
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Pi Day
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Kirkjufell, Iceland
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Independence Day
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Tegallalang terrace farms in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
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World Honey Bee Day
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It’s NASA’s 60th birthday
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Shark Awareness Day
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Old Town in Prague, Czech Republic
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Who s there? The largest owl in the world
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The first ascent
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World Art Day
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National Hammock Day
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A dying breed of tree thrives in an American park
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Shi Shi Beach, Olympic National Park, Washington
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These patterns tell a story
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Endangered Species Act
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Sea lion in a kelp forest, Baja California, Mexico
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National Fossil Day
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Perseid meteor shower over Oregon
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Sleep tight, little hedgehog
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It s National Camera Day. Get the picture?
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Lavender fields on the Valensole Plateau in Provence, France
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Engineering an artificial harbor in Normandy
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International Jazz Day
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International Day of Light
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International Day of the Worlds Indigenous Peoples
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Prince Christian Sound in southern Greenland
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Winter at Valley Forge
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Grand Canyon National Park turns 105
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

