Despite the huge changes in flora, fauna, climate and landscape, there is still a lot of mystery left on Earth. In the world around us, there are such vivid and unusual natural phenomena that they can easily be mistaken for manifestations of the supernatural.
Witch circles
Deep in the forest or even in your own backyard, you can find circles of mushrooms or dark green grass. This fairly common phenomenon is called witch's circles, fairy or elf rings. They were once associated with otherworldly forces and were considered dangerous to mere mortals.
According to a report from Pennsylvania State University, the mysterious rings are formed by colonies of fungi that live in soil and dry grass. These colonies take their food from decaying organic matter and grow in a radial direction, increasing from year to year.
Herbal rings are obtained from nitrogenous substances produced by the breakdown of organic matter by fungi.
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Fox lights
A foxfire is a mushroom that can glow due to bioluminescence, which is the result of chemical interactions between certain types of fungi and decaying wood.
These small, whitish glowing mushrooms usually grow on forest dead wood, especially where the ground is damp and humid, such as in the tropics. Depending on the type, they can glow in different shades of blue, green, yellow.
According to the US Navy, the fox lights were used to illuminate the barometer of the Turtle, the world's first combat submarine used during the American Revolutionary War.
Some species of bacteria, insects, algae, vertebrates and invertebrates also have the ability to emit light. Fireflies are one of the most common bioluminescent organisms.
Shining waves and coastlines
Another phenomenon caused by bioluminescence is phytoplankton, which illuminates coastal waters and gives waves a cosmic neon glow.
Phytoplankton is a type of microalgae that lives on the surface of sea water. When they are swayed by waves or struck by passing fish, they emit a bright blue light.
These light-emitting organisms are found exclusively in salt water, which is believed to be vital to a chemical reaction.
Antarctic blood stream
If the shining coastlines may seem like alluring magic, then the Taylor Glacier in Antarctica has a much more frightening sight - the waterfall flowing out of it paints the surrounding ice in a bloody hue.
For many years, Blood Falls was thought to be the result of the development of algae that live in the cold climate of Antarctica, but recently scientists have revealed the true cause.
According to the latest report published by AccuWeather, the source of the stream is an ancient lake 5 million years old. Its water is rich in iron, which oxidizes when it comes into contact with air. This gives the stream a blood red hue.
The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the College of Colorado. Radio wave sounding was used to determine the exact location from which the water flows.
Fire River Santa Fe
Divers looking for new adventures and the most impressive wonders of the world can safely head to High Springs in the US state of Florida. Recently, a Pennsylvania underwater enthusiast who visited the area filmed a video from under the surface of the Santa Fe River as a firestorm raged overhead.
According to the diver, the scene was fantastic!
Due to the high levels of tannic acid from the roots of cypress trees, the Santa Fe River is cloudy and tea-colored. When combined with 80 million gallons of pure water from the Devil Spring System, the tea water swirls and mixes to create a firestorm effect in the sun.