A blood red beach in Australia looks more like a horror scene than the usual popular tourist destination that is is. The waters off several popular Australian beaches have turned crimson due to algae and the startling site has caused the beaches to close.
Bondi Beach, Clovelly Beach and Gordon's Bay were all closed off as authorities had to perform tests on the waters because they turned bright red. The water looks as if a massive group shark attack occurred in the area, but sharks are not to blame for the strange site.
The waters were turned red by a red algae called Noctiluca scintillans or sea sparkle. The algae may have appeared in the area due to an upswell of nutrient-rich water. Algae blooms often occur when the weather is hot and humid, which is characterisitc of Australia at this time as it approaches its summer season.
The algae doesn't cause too much harm to people, but it can cause skin irritation due to a high ammonia level.
"It has got quite a fishy smell to it," lifeguard Bruce Hopkins said, according to the Sun."It can irritate some people's skin but generally not much more than that."
As the beaches were closed, people were warned not to go into the water. The local council released a statement saying "There are some possible risks to human health including skin rashes and eye irritation and for this reason the beach will remain closed until the algae dissipates."
Some listened to the warnings and watched from afar, while more daring people jumped into the red sea for a swim.
"I wasn't sure if I should let my daughter into the water as I wasn't sure what it was," Irene Eristian told the Sun.
As the algae started to break up and clear out, Bondi Beach was reopened to locals and visitors.
Bondi Beach is a popular tourist area, especially for British tourists. Prince Charles visited the beach earlier this month as part of a Diamond Jubilee tour.
Tourists hope that the waters will remain clear as temperatures remain hot.
'Perhaps I'm just in the wrong country - I thought the Red Sea was somewhere in Asia," Birmingham, England tourist Ken Roberts told the Daily mail.
The waters off on Bondi Beach aren't the only ones to experience color changes. A lake called Lake Retba in Senegal turns different shades of pink due to high salt content.
