A closer look
It looks like avatar-level CGI, but the glow is actually just a massive panic attack by single-celled organisms. Mosquito Bay in Vieques holds the Guinness World Record for the brightest bioluminescent bay on Earth. The bay contains up to 700,000 dinoflagellates per gallon of water. When disturbed by a kayak paddle or a fish, these microscopic plankton react with a chemical defense mechanism, producing bursts of bright blue light to startle predators. The narrow opening of the bay and dense mangrove roots trap the plankton inside, creating a permanent, glowing lagoon that makes you feel like you are paddling through liquid stars.
