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Lake balls

03.07.2025, Tartu. The bottom of Lake SaadjÃ¤rv in central-eastern Estonia is home to the rare marimo moss ball (Aegagropila linnaei), a species of algae that grows into velvety green balls and is considered a symbol of environmental purity. Photo Mailis Vahenurm, Tartu Postimees

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Lake balls

03.07.2025, Tartu. The bottom of Lake SaadjÃ¤rv in central-eastern Estonia is home to the rare marimo moss ball (Aegagropila linnaei), a species of algae that grows into velvety green balls and is considered a symbol of environmental purity. Photo Mailis Vahenurm, Tartu Postimees

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Lake balls

03.07.2025, Tartu. The bottom of Lake SaadjÃ¤rv in central-eastern Estonia is home to the rare marimo moss ball (Aegagropila linnaei), a species of algae that grows into velvety green balls and is considered a symbol of environmental purity. Photo Mailis Vahenurm, Tartu Postimees

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Lake balls

03.07.2025, Tartu. The bottom of Lake SaadjÃ¤rv in central-eastern Estonia is home to the rare marimo moss ball (Aegagropila linnaei), a species of algae that grows into velvety green balls and is considered a symbol of environmental purity. Photo Mailis Vahenurm, Tartu Postimees

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Wish upon marimo algae ball at Lake Akan

KUSHIRO, Japan - Visitors look at the light bulbs containing people's wish lists and glowing in green, the color of Japan's protected species marimo, a type of floating green algae ball, on Lake Akan in Kushiro, Hokkaido Prefecture, on July 22, 2014.

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Rare 'marimo' algae balls found in Aomori lake

AOMORI, Japan - A girl looks at ''marimo'' algae balls in a fish tank at Aquarium Asamushi in Aomori, Aomori Prefecture, on Jan. 10. The greenish algae balls which have been found in Lake Ogawara in the northern Japan prefecture since last fall have drawn scientists' attention as it is rare for the algae to live in lakes such as Ogawara in which fresh and salt water is mixed. Marimos are a type of algae formed by many small strings of algae tangling together in a spherical pattern, forming a velvety green surface.

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Rare 'marimo' algae balls found in Aomori lake

AOMORI, Japan - A girl looks at ''marimo'' algae balls in a fish tank at Aquarium Asamushi in Aomori, Aomori Prefecture, on Jan. 10. The greenish algae balls which have been found in Lake Ogawara in the northern Japan prefecture since last fall have drawn scientists' attention as it is rare for the algae to live in lakes such as Ogawara in which fresh and salt water is mixed. Marimos are a type of algae formed by many small strings of algae tangling together in a spherical pattern, forming a velvety green surface. (Kyodo)

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Mystic algae balls grow faster than legend: researcher

KUSHIRO, Japan - A researcher checks one of the largest Akan marimos in Lake Akan in Hokkaido in an undated photo released by the Akan Education Booard. According to a study conducted by a group of marimo researchers at the board, the greenish algae ball in Lake Akan where the local legend says would take 900 years to grow to basketball size, apparently grows a lot faster than traditionally thought. The one in the photo is 31 centimeters in diameter. (Kyodo)

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Ainu, indigenous people of Japan

Masao Nishida (C), 69, offers prayers while leading an Ainu ceremony to thank nature at Lake Akan on Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido on Oct. 10, 2015. In the ceremony, marimo, rare ball-like aggregations of algae that grew at the bottom of the lake, were returned to the lake one by one in a careful manner. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Ethnic Ainu people hold ritual to thank nature in northern Japan

Ethnic Ainu people return "marimo" moss balls to Lake Akan during a traditional rite to express gratitude for nature on Oct. 10, 2015, in Kushiro in Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Ethnic Ainu people thank nature in ritual in northern Japan

Ethnic Ainu people bring "marimo" moss balls to Lake Akan during a ritual to express gratitude for nature on Oct. 10, 2015, in Kushiro in Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Wish upon marimo algae ball at Lake Akan

KUSHIRO, Japan - Visitors look at the light bulbs containing people's wish lists and glowing in green, the color of Japan's protected species marimo, a type of floating green algae ball, on Lake Akan in Kushiro, Hokkaido Prefecture, on July 22, 2014. (Kyodo)

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Sightseeing boat breaks ice on Lake Akan in Hokkaido

The Mashu Maru excursion boat breaks the ice on Lake Akan in Kushiro in Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido on April 16, 2018, ahead of the start of the sight-seeing season in May in the lake, which is known for its rare "marimo" green algae balls. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Sightseeing boat breaks ice on Lake Akan in Hokkaido

The Mashu Maru excursion boat breaks the ice on Lake Akan in Kushiro in Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido on April 16, 2018, ahead of the start of the sight-seeing season in May in the lake, which is known for its rare "marimo" green algae balls. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Sightseeing boat Mashu Maru breaks ice on Lake Akan

The sightseeing boat Mashu Maru breaks the ice on Lake Akan, with Mt. Oakan in the background, in Kushiro on Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido on April 17, 2017, before resuming business in May. The lake is known for its rare marimo green algae balls. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Sightseeing boat Mashu Maru breaks ice on Lake Akan

The sightseeing boat Mashu Maru breaks the ice on Lake Akan, with Mt. Oakan in the background, in Kushiro on Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido on April 17, 2017, before resuming business in May. The lake is known for its rare marimo green algae balls. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo