What is algae

Algae are special kinds of plants that grow in water. There are several thousand different kinds of algae. The green scum you may find in your fish bowl, or on the surface of a pond, is a form of algae. Most of the many kinds of seaweed are algae. Some seaweeds grow to a length of 200 feet. Seaweed has been called the grass of the ocean.

Without algae there would be no fish, just as there would be no animal life on land if there were no plants for animals to eat. Algae have no roots, stems or leaves. Some float freely on or near the surface of the water. Have you ever squeezed the little pods on a piece of seaweed and heard,them pop? The pods are filled with air to help the seaweed float. They must float in order to get the sunlight that they need to grow on. Most algae are green, but some are other colors. The Red Sea gets its name from the red algae that grow there. In many parts of the world people have found uses for seaweed.

The Japanese eat certain kinds and also use it to fer-tilize their crops. Other people who live near the sea also use it for fertilizer. From some seaweeds iodine is made, and other seaweeds are used to make medicines that are good for upset stomachs. Some forms of algae contain a substance that is put in ice cream to make it smooth.