USA Goat Rock

Went to Goat Rock on the Sonoma Coast to take advantage of the moonless night to photograph the Milky Way. What I didn’t expect was to see a bioluminescent display in the breaking waves. The glowing blue light is caused by a marine microorganism, a single-celled creature called a dinoflagellate. Through a chemical reaction they glow when disturbed by the breaking waves. It was truly a magical scene.

The bioluminescence only occurs during late summer. It is visible on nights when there is no moon.

Goat Rock is located on CA highway 101 just south of the town of Jenner. It is a State Park and is open daily. The gates to the beach parking close art sunset, but there is roadside parking along the access road after dark.