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Recently, Israeli scientists have discovered what causes toxic algae to multiply in Lake Kinneret - the largest freshwater lake in Israel. The toxic blue-green algae is considered a type of seaweed that poses a threat to water quality. Our correspondent brings us this story.

Lake Kinneret in northern Israel is also known as the Sea of Galilee. According to Christian belief, Jesus walked on its water. It's the largest freshwater lake in Israel, the main natural source of pumping water and drinking water.

A few years ago, the balance between the populations of algae in water was weakened, when an invading seaweed species by the name of Cyanobacteria bloomed in the lake. Cyanobacteria overgrew and crowded out other species of algae.

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Dr. Hadas is a scientist from the Israel Water Company "Mekorot." She has worked together with Professor Aaron Kaplan and his student Jonathan Bar-Joseph from the Hebrew University, and they have discovered the cause of blue-green algae in Lake Kinneret.

This blue-green algae from the tropics releases high concentrations of toxins, and this compromises the use of drinking water from Lake Kinneret. Why has blue-green algae continued to multiply in the lake?

[Dr. Ora Hadas, Researcher, “Mekorot” Water Company]:
"Maybe the explanation can be found in the change of climate and it's warming, because Cyanobacteria likes hot weather."

Blue-green algae first appeared in Late Kinneret in 1994. Other algae, such as Peridinium, which once dominated the lake, have now almost disappeared.

[Dr. Ora Hadas, Researcher, “Mekorot” Water Company]:
"This Cyanobacteria, after appearing for the first time, it reappeared just because it has also special cells that survive in hard conditions. And now it invaded not only the Lake of Kineret but also many other lakes in temperate zones like Germany, Austria etc."

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NTD News, Tiberias, Israel.