Saednews: If you have ever been to the southern beaches of Iran, you may have noticed that the sea shines in blue from the shore. Do you know the reason for this green and blue glow, when you can witness it, and which southern beaches of Iran are the best places to view this phenomenon?
According to the Family Magazine Service of Saadnews, quoting from Ali Gasht, phytoplankton are considered a type of plant plankton that are small, microscopic organisms living in seas and oceans, including the waters of the Persian Gulf, which can also be seen from the southern shores of Iran. Phytoplankton are important for the entire planet Earth. They provide a large portion of the oxygen in the air for us, and some studies suggest that the oxygen produced by phytoplankton may be even greater than half of the oxygen we receive from the air. In this article, we will tell you how, where, and in what ways these fascinating organisms live.
Phytoplankton on the southern shores of Iran, the marine fireflies
Phytoplankton use photosynthesis for their growth, and during this process, they consume water and carbon dioxide, releasing oxygen as a byproduct. You might not know that phytoplankton are one of the key elements in the base of the food chain. In other words, whales and some small fish feed on them, and then larger fish eat the smaller ones, continuing the food chain, eventually reaching humans.
This is quite natural, as we consume marine life, particularly fish. This is why the energy from phytoplankton also gives us energy. As mentioned, phytoplankton live in seas and oceans, but more specifically, they are primarily found at the surface of the water, which is why they can be seen from the southern shores of Iran. Like plants, phytoplankton need sunlight and grow using water and carbon dioxide. However, they also require minerals and vitamins for their survival and continued existence.
The Sea of Oman and the Persian Gulf in southern Iran are areas that confirm our identity and authenticity. Beautiful and pristine regions, where once you visit this warm and pleasant land, leaving it won’t be easy. On the southern shores of the country, besides various beautiful phenomena such as coral reefs, you can encounter the stunning phytoplankton phenomenon and witness this eye-catching and scientific spectacle up close. This fascinating phenomenon, however, is not limited to the southern shores of our country and can be seen in other parts of the world such as the Maldives, Hawaii, Sweden, Cambodia, and even the Bermuda Islands. In this section, we will introduce the beaches where you can easily observe these vibrant, glowing neighbors up close.
Phytoplankton Beach
1- Southern Iran | Mesmerizing Beaches of Hengam Island The first island we want to introduce to you is the beautiful and enchanting Hengam Island. A small island in the group of other beautiful islands of Iran, it has an incomplete cone shape and is located next to the southern part of Qeshm Island. On this island, you will find rich deposits of lead, soil, and salt. Hengam offers countless attractions, such as gazelles, dolphins, pristine beaches, the wreck of a Portuguese ship, Egyptian palms, and, of course, the most captivating of all, the silver-blue phytoplankton-covered beaches. It’s impossible to visit Hengam Island and not encounter these luminous, transparent creatures on the shores.
The Strange Story of Hengam Phytoplankton When you walk on the beautiful beach of Hengam Island, which can certainly be listed among the best southern beaches of Iran, you will encounter sparkling and luminous particles in the sand that seem to be a type of shiny mineral. The locals of Hengam call this beach the "Silver Sand Beach" because of these small and delightful guests, the phytoplankton. When sunlight shines brightly, it reflects off these suspended particles, creating a pleasant glow, which enhances the beauty of the beach. When the sea waves reach the shore and merge with these particles, their brightness intensifies 100 times, and this glow can even remain for a while after the waves leave the shore. Phytoplankton are the cherished guests that illuminate Hengam Island’s beach, turning the water into a silver-blue color due to the chlorophyll in their bodies. Unfortunately, recently, due to excessive human traffic to this silver sand beach, some of these phytoplankton have been damaged. As a result, regular access to this beach has been restricted in order to preserve this biological cycle and care for the phytoplankton.
2- Southern Iran | The Enchanting Beach of Hormuz Island, Manfaq Beach As you know, Hormuz Island is one of the most beautiful and attractive islands in the Persian Gulf, offering not only strategic importance but also many other attractions. This island has some of the most beautiful beaches in southern Iran, which are unique and rare. For example, one of the wonders of this island is the colorful soil found on its beaches. People on Hormuz Island often use the soil and sand as spices in their food. Hormuz has many beaches, each with its own features and wonders, but unfortunately, like the islands of Kish and Qeshm, these beaches are not well-maintained and are not given much attention. One of the wonders found on these beaches is the presence of phytoplankton, and in the following, we will introduce one of the most beautiful beaches of Hormuz Island.
Manfaq Beach
The Luminous Manfaq Manfaq Beach is one of the beaches on beautiful Hormuz Island, located at the mouth of the Persian Gulf. Hormuz Island generally offers beautiful and strange landscapes to tourists, with a wide variety of minerals, geological beauties, coral reefs, completely rocky shores, dark sea caves, and diverse native plants and wildlife, attracting many tourists. Manfaq Beach has become a popular tourist destination due to the presence of phytoplankton, which have transformed the beach into a luminous area.
At night, when the waves roll over the water, the phytoplankton glow brightly, illuminating the environment in a unique way. The charm of the phytoplankton on this beach is breathtaking. Manfaq Beach is the beautiful beach you may have seen pictures of but didn't know its name, full of sparkle, and walking on its glittering sand feels like stepping on a starry sky at night. Tourists who regularly visit Hormuz Island are familiar with this beach and know that it is one of the most popular beaches where phytoplankton colonies can be found.
3- Southern Iran | The Famous Qeshm Island Qeshm Island is well known to all of us. A beautiful island covering 177 square kilometers, it is made up entirely of volcanic mountains with conical shapes. But in this section, we are not talking about Qeshm Island itself, but one of the islands near Qeshm called Larak Island, which lies right next to Qeshm and Hormuz, with many cultural and historical attractions. The sandy and coral beaches of this island are among the most beautiful and unique in the Persian Gulf, attracting many tourists both from Iran and abroad. But one of the natural attractions of Larak Island is the vibrant and active presence of phytoplankton.
Larak Island and Exciting Phytoplankton
In 2015, a stunning and beautiful photo was published in National Geographic, taken by a man named Pouyan Shadpour, who had captured the enchanting scene of glowing phytoplankton while walking along Larak Island’s beach in Qeshm. According to Pouyan Shadpour, it seemed as though the phytoplankton were casting a spell with their lights, inspiring him to photograph this extraordinary sight.
Phytoplankton, those tiny, energetic, and glittering organisms, have illuminated Larak Island’s beach with their glowing points. This phenomenon is not permanent, and can only be seen when the sea is calm, without waves, and no wind blows. Only then can these luminous creatures freely illuminate the shores. The reflection of the light from the strange and tiny phytoplankton on Larak Island’s beaches creates an indescribable scene. However, it should be noted that this phenomenon may not be visible for the entire month, and it is only on certain beaches that tourists can witness these glowing phytoplankton.
4- Southern Iran | Shiny Chabahar Beaches When talking about the southern beaches of the country, we often think of islands like Kish, Qeshm, and Hormuz. However, there are also other beautiful beaches in this region that are less mentioned but no less fascinating. One of these remarkable beaches is in Chabahar, a port city in the south of Sistan and Baluchestan, located on the shores of the Sea of Oman. Chabahar is unique as it is the only oceanic beach in the country, connected continuously to the ocean. This coastal city, near the border with Pakistan, is well connected to countries like Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan through the Makran coastline and the waters of the Indian Ocean.
Chabahar's Diamond Beach Chabahar’s cool and pleasant weather in the fall and winter creates an enchanting atmosphere. If you visit the shores of Chabahar, you will witness a gathering of luminous blue phytoplankton, enjoying the floating waves of the water. The blue glow of the phytoplankton, combined with the sound of the waves, creates strange and rarely seen images. These tiny creatures hurry to the shore and, after the waves recede, they light up the sand with their glow. These small ocean dwellers shine more the deeper into the darkness you go, and their brilliance fades after a short time, making them fleeting and fragile guests of the sea.
Final Words Now, you know the beaches that are showcased in Google images or social media with titles like "Silver Beaches," "Diamond Beaches," or "Luminous Beaches" are indeed formed by tiny organisms and materials. Luminous phytoplankton, with their presence on these shores, create a world that humans, no matter their capabilities, cannot replicate. These microscopic creatures are not only the guests of our country’s shores, but are also found actively glowing on shores around the world.
