Stunning picture as beach glows bright blue in Sweden

This vibrant beach may look like an alien world - but it is actually the result of a natural phenomenon causing sand to glow blue.

The natural phenomenon - called bioluminescence - occurred on the island of Mjorn, Sweden, at the end o November 2014..

Organisms such as fireflies and anglerfish produce a fluorescent glow by releasing the chemical luciferin, which reacts with oxygen to create light.

Lukasz Warzecha, who lives in High Peak, Derbs, photographed the stunning sight while on a trip with Ulrika Larsson.

He said: "After a good half an hour of shooting in the area I was cold and ready to leave but Ulrika decided to have a look for some bioluminescence.

"I'd never seen it before, but she threw some small stones close to the shore and the ocean came alive - I couldn't believe my eyes.

"We went around the corner to an even smaller bay and as we were walking along the beach our feet were leaving shining footprints.

"The concentration of plankton in that small area was so big it looked at times like the water was on fire and was certainly mirroring the sky."

According to Wikipedia, Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by a living organism.

It is a form of chemiluminescence. Bioluminescence occurs widely in marine vertebrates and invertebrates, as well as in some fungi, microorganisms including some bioluminescent bacteria and terrestrial invertebrates such as fireflies.

In some animals, the light is produced by symbiotic organisms such as Vibrio bacteria.

Related articles

Stunning scene as Maldives beach lights up blue

Natural phenomenon turns sea water electric blue

{C}{C}

{C}