Algae In China

Green algae covers beaches and the sea in Qingdao, China Children swim in water covered by a thick layer of green algae at Zhanqiao Pier in Qingdao, a port city in Shandong Province, China. The algae which has washed up onto on the beaches of Qingdao is only a small part of a 410-square-km green algae bloom in the Yellow Sea, which is being blown towards Qingdao. Though the green algae is not toxic, it can consume large amounts of oxygen, threatening marine life. Also, rotting algae emits a foul smell. Workers and volunteers have cleaned more than 240 tons of green algae from the coastline of Qingdao, since the algae bloom began a month ago. Qingdao was hit by green algae in 2007 and 2008. Residents and soldiers removed tens of thousands of tonnes of it before the Olympic sailing events. More images of the algae: