The Red Beaches of Panjin, China

These look fake.

They’re not.

That’s Red Beach in Panjin, China. It’s famous for its vibrant and unusual color, caused by Chenopodiaceae, “a unique variety of alkali-tolerant seaweed that changes from green to red in the fall.” (This particular branch might be known as Suaeda salsa. I hope that’s right; it sure would be fitting.)

I’m having trouble remembering when and where I first stumbled across those images in my feedreader — Was it OneBigPhoto, perhaps? — but the photo collection over at BoredPanda is breathtaking. And so is AmusingPlanet’s. And NewsFiesta’s. Heck, I’m pretty sure I could spend the rest of the afternoon being short of breath over this plain ol’ Flickr search.

Maybe I will.

O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the works Thy hand hath made;
I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,
Thy pow’r throughout the universe displayed.