Troubled California lake turns so green it’s visible from space
California’s Clear Lake has been taken over by so much algae that its emerald waters are now visible from space, photos show. The satellite images, taken by NASA in mid-May, indicate that the eutrophic lake may be infested with blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria — single-celled organisms that can become potent enough to poison humans and animals, according to the United States Geological Survey. County officials wrote that, overall, algae is integral to the freshwater lake’s health and aquatic ecosystem. More than 130 different types of species have been identified thus far, but three problematic blue-green algal species have been known to bloom there in the spring and late summertime. These harmful species can cause skin irritation, along with gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms, officials said.
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