Nelson beaches blanketed by bubbles of sea foam after wild weather and strong winds lash coastal areas
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While snow has fallen in some parts of Australia, a small coastal hamlet nestled between South Australia and Victoria is experiencing its own white phenomenon with massive amounts of sea foam covering its beaches.
Thick blankets of sea foam have extended across Ocean Beach at Nelson in Victoria, triggering interest from locals.
The foam has been spotted in recent days with the district being battered by heavy rain, strong winds and wild surf.
Nelson resident Tisha Kavanagh, who has been heading down to the beach with her dog Tink, says it is a spectacular site that resembles a bubble bath.
"There was no sand visible, the entire beach was entirely covered in sea foam," she said.
"I've seen a lot of sea foam on that beach before but never to that extent … it was knee-high foam, blowing in great big balls, all the way up the beach.
"It looked like snow; it was quite incredible to see."
Ms Kavanagh noted the foam had been caused by the recent severe weather, with algae and organic matter being chopped up by the rough seas.
"Apparently it's a sign of a healthy ecosystem," she said.
"When there's a very rough sea there's a release of chemicals from the algae and organic materials in the sea and this causes the foaming.
"While the brownish tinge to some of the foam is just caused by pureed seaweed."
Ms Kavanagh was not the only one enjoying the spectacle, with her dog Tink wading through the foam.
"Tink is only knee-high," she said.
"She was sort of tunnelling through it and jumping around having a great time.
"We both got rather wet and sandy, but it was great fun."
"People seem to think that if it's a rough, stormy day, it's not a good day to go to the beach … those are the days which are the most fun down there, and the most interesting.
Meanwhile, further upstream, Nelson residents are also watching the rising water levels along the Glenelg River — with some residents reporting boat landings and sheds being submerged along the riverbank.
Ms Kavanagh explained that while her shack was unlikely to be in danger of flooding, others were not so lucky.
"I do feel for anyone that's got the lower-built shacks and people who've actually got the boats in the water," she said.
"I was up at Dry Creek a couple of days ago and the shacks there were very flooded.
"It's going to do a lot of damage unfortunately."
The Department of Environment and Water is cautioning people against walking through the foam until authorities can confirm it is safe.
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