The UK's iconic Lake Windermere is almost completely covered in algae as experts warn that fish may be struggling to survive as they appear to swim in circles on the water's surface - as rivers and canals across 'Tinderbox Britain' turn green during the heatwave.
Aerial photos show the beloved UNESCO-protected holiday spot in the Lake District in Cumbria blanketed with blue-green algae - which can be potentially harmful to dogs - transforming the water's appearance from crystal blue into a slimy pale green colour.
Video posted by environmental campaigners appear to show fish swimming in circles at the water's surface amid fears they are 'distressed' and 'struggling for life'.
An online petition to clean up Windermere has now garnered more than 100,000 signatures - meaning it has to be debated by MPs when they return from their holidays.
Algae begins to multiply when the weather is warm and once the numbers are high they are likely to persist and dominate a waterway throughout the season. They can produce toxins that can cause skin rashes, vomiting, stomach pains, a fever and headaches. Though not all blue-green algae are toxic, it is not possible to tell from appearance alone, and it is not clear if the algae on Windermere is harmful.
MailOnline has approached South Lakeland District Council, which owns the popular lake, for further information.
Experts have warned that England's largest lake is on the brink of ecological disaster owing to algae blooms as well as sewage work pollution, local agriculture and the near 2,000 private septic tanks that line the historic site which is believed to have inspired the works of Oscar Wilde and William Wordsworth.
Data showed that raw sewage was pumped into the lake for 1,719 hours in 2020 - while an interactive map from the River Trust shows at least seven points where waste was discharged into the water last year.
It comes as waterways in London, Manchester, Berkshire and elsewhere are coated by algae as the country is scorched by searing 30C temperatures.
LAKE WINDERMERE: Aerial shots show how Lake Windermere, Cumbria, has been swamped with blue-green algae over the last few days due to the hot and sunny weather
Aerial footage showed the iconic Lake District site overwhelmed with toxic blue-green algae after it continued to multiply in the hot and sunny weather
What are algal blooms and when are they harmful?
What is a harmful algal bloom?
Algae are microscopic organisms that live in aquatic environments and use photosynthesis to produce energy from sunlight, just like plants.
A harmful algal bloom occurs when algae grow excessively in a body of water.
The algal bloom becomes visible to the naked eye and can be green, blue-green, red, or brown, depending on the type of algae.
Why do harmful algal blooms occur?
Algae are always present in natural bodies of water like oceans, lakes, and rivers, but only a few types can produce toxins.
In these algae, toxin production can be stimulated by environmental factors such as light, temperature, and nutrient levels.
As climate change gradually warms the Earth’s , scientists expect harmful algal blooms to become more frequent, wide-ranging, and severe.
What are the dangers to humans and pets?
Harmful algal blooms can produce potent toxins that can result in a range of health effects in people and animals.
Effects on people coming into contact with toxic scums include skin rashes, eye irritations, vomiting and diarrhoea, fever and pains in muscles and joints.
Harmful algal blooms have also caused the deaths of dogs, horses, cattle, birds and fish across the UK.
How do harmful algal blooms affect ecosystems?
In addition to health concerns, harmful algal blooms can damage the environment by depleting oxygen in the water, which can kill fish as well as organisms deeper in the water.
Director of the Aquatic Veterinarian Dr Bryony Chetwynd-Glover said: 'Looking at the video, the fish is displaying very abnormal, uncoordinated swimming movements at the surface of the water, indicating a severe level of neurological impairment.
'This is likely due to the direct toxic effects of the algae or the indirect depletion of oxygen from the water which occurs during algal blooms. So ‘choking’ from a lack of oxygen in the water is possible!'
In Slough, Berkshire, algae can be seen completely covering the Jubilee River as temperatures soared and surpassed 30C once again - and in Bedford day trippers have been warned about the algae at a local beauty spot which can cause skin rashes and lead to serious illness if consumed.
Barges and canal boats in Greater London were seen ploughing through pea-green soup algae which is covering the city's canals, and where specialised boats have been called out on a daily basis to clean and clear the algae away.
Another image shows a horse drinking in a Hampshire lake while a swan in Bedford was seen trudging through the thick green mush.
A warning sign was put up by local authorities at the Priory Country Park in Bedford which strongly advised children, adults and their pets to stay away from the lake there.
The blue-green algae at Priory Country Park, which produces an unpleasant odor, was seen swarming with flies and insects.
Snapshots of Sale Water Park, which is on the outskirts the Manchester, found swans and other birds navigating their way through the clusters of brown algae lying on top of the water.
An Environment Agency spokesperson said: 'Hot, sunny weather can result in algal blooms forming and removing dissolved oxygen from our waters, which fish need to survive.
'Environment Agency officers are out on the ground ensuring our fisheries are supported, deploying aeration pumps to restore oxygen levels and, when necessary, performing a fish rescue.'
SLOUGH, BERKSHIRE: The Jubilee River was almost covered in lime-green coloured algae on Thursday 11 August as temperatures soared and surpassed 30C once again
SLOUGH, BERKSHIRE: Last week algae smothered parts of the Jubilee River as temperatures continue to increase across the country
BEDFORD: Visitors have been told to stay away from a natural beauty spot in Bedford on 11 August after a wave of poisonous blue-green algae blossomed
BEDFORD: A warning post at popular Country Park, Priory Country Park, was put up to inform visitors of the dangers of blue-green algae which is toxic and poisonous
MANCHESTER: Algae floating in the water on 11 August at Middlewood Locks, Salford, and blocking the natural sunlight for plants or other organisms at the bottom
BEDFORD: Blue-green algae flourish and have a competitive advantage over other plants in temperatures which are 25C or higher
REGENT'S CANAL: 'Pea soup' algae has begun to cover London's canals, particularly in Regents Canal (pictured above); the water on Wednesday 10 August looks as like thick green paint
MANCHESTER: Photos from Sale Water Park, which is on the outskirts of Manchester, on the 11 August showed swans and birds navigating their way around the thick clumps of brown algae
BEDFORD: Blue-green algae, a toxic type which can be harmful for humans and other animals, covered a popular country park in Bedford on Thursday - pictured from above
SLOUGH, BERKSHIRE: As the dry weather continues there is still no forecast for rain for the foreseeable future, more algae can be expected. Pictured: Algae and weed forming on the Jubilee River in Slough on 4 August
HAMPSHIRE: A pony foal drinks and cools down in Janesmoore pond in the New Forest, Hampshire as temperatures soar and surpass 30C, 9 August
LONDON: A swan swims and trudges through thick green lumps in the Diana Fountain pond at Bushy Park in South West London on 11 August
LONDON: Due to the extreme hot weather algae has begun to cover London's canals, the picture was taken on 10 August
LONDON: A narrowboat makes its way down a London canal in the extreme weather: the tracks are the only parts of the water which are not covered in algae
LONDON: Although the pea soup algae has begun to cover London's waters, a group of small people are making their way through Regent Canal while protecting themselves from the sun with large umbrellas
Algal blooms usually develop in the summer months and occur due to higher temperatures, an abundance of sunlight and more nutrients.
Once they have multiplied the water becomes less clear and can appear as thick green paint, discoloured small clumps or brown paste.
Some such as blue-green algae can be poisonous and produce toxins which can make humans and animals very ill.
If they cover the whole water surface they can block much needed sunlight for plants at the bottom of Britain's waterways.
As the temperature increases the level of oxygen in water decreases, which directly affects fish in rivers, canals and still waters.
Algae exacerbates this as it sucks up even more air which can lead to creatures and wildlife suffocating.
Algal blooms cause levels of oxygen to widely fluctuate over a 24-hour period placing additional stress on sea creatures.
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