The Red Lake Fuels Apocalyptic Interpretations
Sea of Galilee, Frequently Mentioned in the Bible
The Sea of Galilee in northern Israel, which is frequently mentioned in the Bible, has recently exhibited a red hue, fueling a wave of rumors among local residents and tourists. Some are saying, "God's judgment will soon begin," while others claim it is "a sign of the end times." On August 11 (local time), the UK’s Daily Mail reported that waves in the Sea of Galilee had turned blood-red and were washing ashore, leading some residents to speculate that biblical prophecies might be coming true.
The Sea of Galilee in northern Israel, which is also mentioned in the Bible, recently displayed a red hue, sparking various rumors. Daily Mail
The Sea of Galilee is famous as the site of many of Jesus’s miracles described in the Bible. According to passages in the New Testament, Jesus walked on water here and performed the so-called "miracle of the five loaves and two fish," feeding 5,000 people. He also called Peter, Andrew, James, and John as his disciples at this location. Some have claimed that this phenomenon evokes the first of the ten plagues described in the Book of Exodus in the Old Testament, in which the Nile River turned to blood.
Exodus 7:17-21 records, "The Lord said, 'I will strike the water of the Nile with the staff in my hand, and it will be changed into blood.'" As a result, some believers have argued that this is "a sign of the end times," posting such photos on social media and drawing widespread attention. As the controversy grew, scientists and government authorities dismissed these claims, explaining that the phenomenon is a "natural occurrence."
The cause of the red hue is 'green algae'...harmless to humans
The Sea of Galilee in northern Israel, which also appears in the Bible, recently showed a red hue, sparking various rumors. Daily Mail
In response to the controversy, Israel’s Ministry of Environmental Protection explained that "under strong sunlight, certain algae accumulate pigments and turn red," identifying the cause as the green algae Botryococcus braunii. This algae is found in a variety of freshwater and brackish environments worldwide and has been confirmed to be harmless to humans. It is also known for producing hydrocarbons similar to petroleum, which makes it useful in biofuel research.
According to tests conducted by the Kinneret Institute, which studies the ecology of the Sea of Galilee, the water quality remains safe, and there have been no reported cases of skin irritation or allergic reactions, according to the authorities. Experts explained that "a temporary discoloration occurred due to a combination of factors favorable to algae growth, such as rising temperatures, abundant nutrients, and sunlight," and emphasized that "there is no cause for concern."
Previously, in September 2021, a pond south of the Dead Sea in the Moab region of Jordan also made headlines when its water turned a deep red. Some believers offered apocalyptic interpretations, recalling the "plague of the Nile turning to blood" from the Book of Exodus. However, an investigation by the Jordanian Ministry of Water Resources found that the pond contained high concentrations of manganese and iron, and the combination of high temperatures and salinity caused the color change. Authorities stated that there were no harmful effects on humans or the environment.
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