With COVID-19 restrictions, people are being confined to their homes, and the lockdown has lead to many rare events across the globe. Another such event happened for the first time in 60 years when the Puerto Marques Beach in Acapulco, Mexico, put up a spectacular light show by lighting up the shore with bioluminescence recently. Some lucky locals were there to enjoy this treat and capture it in their mobiles. And within a few hours, the pictures went viral. No wonder why.
Reportedly, the rare phenomenon was the by-product of a biochemical reaction that was caused by the bioluminescent planktons in the water. Due to the nationwide lockdown in Mexico, bathing in beaches all over the country has been banned to contain the spread of the virus. Yet, one visitor flouted the rules to take a dip in the shining waters. Check it out here.
Bioluminescence appears on the beaches of Puerto Marquez, Acapulco, #Mexico.@dezabedrosky #acapulco #plaza #puertomarquez #beach #videos #climatechange #likes4like #lights #lighthouse #cute #awesome #mundial pic.twitter.com/vvhoLpDACh
— Corelion, LLC (@corelionnews) April 22, 2020
As per the Acapulco tourism board, this rare activity is the result of biochemical reaction by microorganisms present in the water. Noctiluca Scintillans, also known as the sea sparkle, are living microorganisms that light up when disturbed. On certain occasions when the organisms bloom, due to a lot of small creatures congregating together, this rare phenomenon is witnessed.
After the pictures were circulated over social media, it was believed that this happened due to less foot traffic or due to lack of swimmers in the beach. However, scientists don’t agree with this. As per marine biologists Enrique Ayala Duval, the bioluminescence is caused by the light produced because of a biochemical reaction, in which in many cases, molecular oxygen, luciferin [protein], and ATP [adenosine triphosphate] take part.