Temperatures reaching 30 degrees Celsius and minimal rainfall have caused duckweed to cover the historic canals of Ghent, Belgium, turning the water bright green.
High Temperatures Trigger Plant Growth
The Lys River and surrounding canals in Ghent experienced a rapid bloom of duckweed, a small floating aquatic plant. According to local media reports, the combination of unusually warm weather and a lack of precipitation created the ideal environment for the plants to multiply and blanket the water’s surface.
Weather data shows that the heat remained consistent through September, with temperatures frequently hitting between 28 and 30 degrees Celsius. This sustained warmth accelerated the growth of the greenery, altering the appearance of the city’s medieval waterways.
Impact on Ghent Tourism
The bright green hue now characterizes the canals of a city widely recognized for its medieval architecture and art. While the duckweed has changed the visual landscape, tourist boats continue to navigate through the thick layers of plants on the Lys River.
Duckweed Bloom Questions
Why did the canals change color so quickly?
The change was driven by a historic heatwave and low rainfall. These conditions allow duckweed to reproduce rapidly and cover the surface of stagnant or slow-moving water.
Is this a common occurrence in Belgium?
While duckweed exists in many waterways, the scale of this bloom was linked to “extraordinary” warmth that persisted well into September, making the color shift more pronounced than usual.
The bright green coverage remains visible across the city’s historic waterways as the region recovers from the summer’s record temperatures.
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