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<a href="http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20110319/news/news3.html#" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Luminous Lagoon a stunning sight
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Richard Morais, Gleaner Writer
FALMOUTH, Trelawny: Just outside Falmouth, offshore the community of Rock in Oyster Bay, is the spectacular luminous lagoon which should easily be a candidate for the new wonders of the world.
Seen in the dark, whenever the water is agitated, it gives off a glow. Therefore, anything agitating it causes the glow to take the shape of the item used in the agitation. Hence, if a person is swimming, the glow would take the shape and the movement of this swimmer, a most stunning sight. On a rainy night, there is nothing more beautiful than to see the glow of every drop of water. To get directly in the act, just running your hand in the water from the boat will cause your hand to glow.
microscopic organisms
This phosphorescence or bio-luminescence phenomenon is caused by tiny or microscopic living organisms called dinoflagellates. They live in the area where there is a delicate mix of salt and fresh water in Oyster Bay, where an underground stream, believed to be a tributary of the Martha Brae River, and the sea interacts.
While the occurrence is somehow explained by science as where fresh and salt water interact, there are hundreds of places worldwide where fresh and salt water meet but, significantly, only about five of these bio-luminescence places are in the world; Oyster Bay being the most striking. This is suggesting something special about this one with even reports that scientists have come here to collect samples to duplicate this elsewhere, but have been unsuccessful.
It is believed that a special bacterium from compost in this area produces essential nutrient for the dinoflagellates to thrive. The sunlight is also said to play a more significant feature than first thought, as daytime heating is supposed to be very important in sustaining the microscopic organisms.
Persons who have collected the water and have taken it home have reported that the glow have lasted up to four days. The water can be accessed via boat rides done by various companies that offer this service including the Glistening Waters Restaurant and Marina.
totally harmless
While some similar microscopic organisms in other areas are harmful in that they produce toxins which can affect other sea life, including killing fish and making shellfish toxic, this is totally harmless and fish and shellfish have been consumed for years without any harm to people who consume them. The water can also be swum in without any harmful effects.
This phenomenon can be destroyed relatively easily, however, as anything which changes the delicate balance will obliterate it as there were others worldwide, but which has subsequently been destroyed. If this is not carefully protected it can die, as was happening to this. Fifty years ago it was seen as far away as Falmouth, but has been lost and was only confined to the lagoon area, but has since been returning.
The dumping of the mangroves for residential purposes was believed to be the main cause for its destruction. This dumping, however, has declined, and it is thought that this is the reason for the return of the phenomenon.
</a>
Richard Morais, Gleaner Writer
FALMOUTH, Trelawny: Just outside Falmouth, offshore the community of Rock in Oyster Bay, is the spectacular luminous lagoon which should easily be a candidate for the new wonders of the world.
Seen in the dark, whenever the water is agitated, it gives off a glow. Therefore, anything agitating it causes the glow to take the shape of the item used in the agitation. Hence, if a person is swimming, the glow would take the shape and the movement of this swimmer, a most stunning sight. On a rainy night, there is nothing more beautiful than to see the glow of every drop of water. To get directly in the act, just running your hand in the water from the boat will cause your hand to glow.
microscopic organisms
This phosphorescence or bio-luminescence phenomenon is caused by tiny or microscopic living organisms called dinoflagellates. They live in the area where there is a delicate mix of salt and fresh water in Oyster Bay, where an underground stream, believed to be a tributary of the Martha Brae River, and the sea interacts.
While the occurrence is somehow explained by science as where fresh and salt water interact, there are hundreds of places worldwide where fresh and salt water meet but, significantly, only about five of these bio-luminescence places are in the world; Oyster Bay being the most striking. This is suggesting something special about this one with even reports that scientists have come here to collect samples to duplicate this elsewhere, but have been unsuccessful.
It is believed that a special bacterium from compost in this area produces essential nutrient for the dinoflagellates to thrive. The sunlight is also said to play a more significant feature than first thought, as daytime heating is supposed to be very important in sustaining the microscopic organisms.
Persons who have collected the water and have taken it home have reported that the glow have lasted up to four days. The water can be accessed via boat rides done by various companies that offer this service including the Glistening Waters Restaurant and Marina.
totally harmless
While some similar microscopic organisms in other areas are harmful in that they produce toxins which can affect other sea life, including killing fish and making shellfish toxic, this is totally harmless and fish and shellfish have been consumed for years without any harm to people who consume them. The water can also be swum in without any harmful effects.
This phenomenon can be destroyed relatively easily, however, as anything which changes the delicate balance will obliterate it as there were others worldwide, but which has subsequently been destroyed. If this is not carefully protected it can die, as was happening to this. Fifty years ago it was seen as far away as Falmouth, but has been lost and was only confined to the lagoon area, but has since been returning.
The dumping of the mangroves for residential purposes was believed to be the main cause for its destruction. This dumping, however, has declined, and it is thought that this is the reason for the return of the phenomenon.
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