What are algae? Know the important facts on Algae.

Algae are photosynthesis organisms that can be found floating on bodies of water. Yes, it is that green stuff that we often see on water bodies floating like ponds, lakes, seas and so on. Although growth of algae in water storage tanks is considered harmful for our use. It is always recommended to buy the best quality water tanks from a renowned manufacturer for domestic and commercial uses. But there is another side of algae.

Let us look at some facts on algae that we might not be aware of.

• Algae are more than 475 million years old on Earth according to fossil records.
• They come in a range of sizes from microscopic Chlorella to massive form like the Giant Kelp.
• Some popular types include seaweeds, phytoplankton, the blue-green algae, pond-scum, algal blooms and so on.
• They are not necessarily always green. They can be found in red, brown and cyan colors too.
• They can be found on snow banks, soils, tree trunks, and hot springs apart from water banks.
• They generate their own food through photosynthesis.
• They play an important role in ecosystems as they produce 70% of the air that we breathe and provide the foundation for the aquatic food chains supporting all fisheries in the ocean. They generate oxygen through Photosynthesis.
• They can reproduce through asexual or vegetative methods and via sexual reproduction.
• They can be used as fertilizers, soil conditioners, and livestock feed.
• Some types of algae provide nutrition. For instance, seaweeds provide many vitamins, iodine, potassium, iron, magnesium, and calcium.
• They are national foods for many countries including Japan, Ireland, Chile, Wales, Korea, Scotland, New Zealand, Greenland, and Iceland.
• Some oils are made from algae that contain high levels of unsaturated fatty acids and omega 3 fatty acids. Some of them include fish oil and flaxseed oil.
• They can treat sewage; filter ponds and aquaria.
• They can create various polymers used to create bioplastics.
• Some natural pigments from algae can be used as an alternative to chemical dyes and coloring agents.

We are sure that you didn't know these extraordinary characteristics and different uses of algae before. Algae has saved the world by cleaning the earth’s atmosphere millions of years ago. They turned the inhospitable atmosphere into one that could support through photosynthesis. They became crude oil by sinking into sea and lake beds. Let's hope that it can save the world again.