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Incredible Footage Captures Glowing Dolphins Swimming Off California Coast

Not everything about 2020 has been a garbage fire — I mean, a lot of it has been, but not everything.

And really, the only way we are going to make it through this age of insanity is by making sure that we don't miss all the interesting, heartwarming, and wonderful stories that are buried beneath that thick layer of suck.

A rare occurrence off the coast of California definitely falls under the "interesting" and "wonderful" categories.

Wikipedia | melvil

The phenomenon is called a "red tide", which is a bit of a misnomer in this case.

These incidents occur when a body of water hosts an algae bloom, which can cause different visible effects depending on the conditions and the kinds of phytoplankton and dinoflagellates living in the bloom.

In many cases, they turn the water a rusty red. In others, there's no real visible difference in the water.

And every once in a while, if conditions are just right, they make the water glow.

This bioluminescence is visible in the few hours after dark and creates some spectacular views.

Unsurprisingly, when the glow appeared on the shores of Newport Beach this week, people are doing their best to get a look before it fades away. How long it will last is unknown, since it all depends on conditions.

Of course, surfers and boaters were going to try to get right out there in is and one video has taken the internet by storm with its beauty.

The plankton glows more the more it is disturbed, which is why the effect is so incredible in waves and boats' wakes.

And it's why a frolicking group of dolphins turned into a magical sight.

Not that frolicking dolphins isn't always a beautiful thing to watch, but this footage is mesmerizing.

You know what they remind me the most of? How a Patronous looks in the Harry Potter movies. Wispy and blue, with a trail of magic in their wake. I could watch them swim all day.

h/t: ABC7