Chennai beach sparkles with bright blue waves at night, leaving locals shocked. Watch an impressive video | Tendencies

After incessant rain wreaked havoc in Chennai last week, a stunning phenomenon on the East Coast Road (ECR) beach has enchanted the city’s residents. Rare blue bioluminescent waves hit the beach at night and videos flooded social media.

Rajya Sabha MP and former Union Minister Anbumani Ramadoss was one of the first to share the rare sight in a video on X. “Just enjoyed the mesmerizing fluorescent waves at ECR Beach!!” he wrote in the post, which showed glistening water lapping against sand.

With more than 24 thousand views, the sight shocked and impressed many in the comments who called the phenomenon “magical”.

Take a look at the viral video here:

“The radiant waves, just before hitting the shore, presented a stunning visual display, captivating all who witnessed them,” wrote one user.

“I witnessed this with my friends and my cat around 10:30 pm at Palavakkam beach in Chennai.. Damn.. That was the best moment, even my cat’s eyes were glowing,” said another user. (Also read: Mysterious lights paint Bengaluru sky pink, yellow and green, turned out to be…)

“Stunning! The bioluminescent waves in Chennai are a beautiful reminder of the wonders of nature. It’s incredible to see how these natural phenomena light up our shores. A must-see for anyone near the coast,” wrote a third user.

However, everyone was curious to know the reason for the impressive display of blue tones. The phenomenon is called bioluminescent water. (Also read: Is Antarctica’s mysterious ‘door’ the secret bunker entrance? The truth behind the viral photo)

What leads to bioluminescent water?

Bioluminescence is a natural phenomenon that occurs after a chemical reaction within organisms living in the ocean. These bioluminescent marine species include fish, bacteria and jellies. The appearance of bioluminescent light differs depending on the habitat and organism in which it is found.

The functions of bioluminescence are not yet fully understood. However, the National Ocean Service notes that sea creatures typically use it to warn or escape predators, attract or find prey, and communicate with others of the same species.