Gene

I'm assuming the northeast states have seaweed and the southeast states do not but I wonder why this is so.

Just

Why? Are you hungry?

x

Gene, seaweed is in the ocean. Depending upon the weather, ALL beaches will have seaweed wash ashore.

Moses

Only the beaches from Maine to Florida.

Rachel

I know Nantucket Island has TONS of seaweed along the harbor side! TONS of it!

Stephanie P.

It's everywhere. I've seen seaweed in Florida for 5 miles when I walked the beaches just north of Ft. Lauderdale. Well, there goes your theory.

What?

If Gene isn't a troll, then this may be one of the most absurd questions I have seen asked here.

Sushi rapper

It seems to me you (or rather your beach) get seaweed if the drop-off of the continental shelf is gradual enough to allow enough light to shine down to foster flora. Other factors might include the amount of plant-food type pollutants in the run-off from the land that gets into the ocean (fertilizers, etc.), the height-differential of the tides (they are much higher and lower in the north, much more shallow in the south) and, perhaps, the vigor of the wave-action to tear seaweed off its roots. I suspect it also could be affected by how protected some beaches are -- think of the Calif. bays that have huge kelp forests.

These are all partially educated guesses -- imagine water temperature might also be relevant but not clear why warmer water would not foster as much growth as cold water.

Not a dumb question, by the way.

New Englander

Newport, RI gets this really wierd red thready seaweed. Seriously, went one August and my kids were absolutely coated in it - even caught underneath their bathing suits! Ugh! One of them wouldn't even go in past his ankles and was actually kind of frightened by it. I did inquire to make sure it wasn't "red tide," but it was just red plants.
However, I love the long, rubbery, curled tales of seaweed you find around Rye Beach NH!

just

Why????

new englander

Why do I love it?
It's fun to drag around! I don't know, great memories as a kid... If you weren't afraid of it, it could be a glamorous "fur" stole or a sea serpent. You could startle your cousins with it. You'd compare who found the longest strand. It has an interesting solid yet slimy texture.
Odd, huh? Are you afraid of me yet?! lol

justwondering

why? meaning why did Gene ask this question? Why does Gene want to know?
I used to play with seaweed too, so we might be scarey togethergt;)

Melissa

tons of seaweed on Northeast beaches as my fellow cape codder Gene noted.
I also love the curly seaweed. I like to throw it at my husband. It always freaks him out. ahhh, thank heavens for cheap laughs.

Rick

I disagree, I think post a about a month ago "Smoke Island, Delaware" was the most absurd.

Weed

I like Seaweed wrapped around my Sushi.

Gene

Hey guys thanks for all your replies. I asked this question mainly because I got tired of Florida residents talking about how clear their water is. It may be clearer but isn't it mostly coral that cuts your feet and full of weird, creepy, mutant sea life?

I also remembered reading somewhere about an area off the coast of Portugal called the Sargasso Sea where most seaweed is supposed to originate from. The seaweed was so thick that sailing ships would get caught and never get free.

Anyway special thanks to:

Sushi Rapper - Your response was very informative. you sound like a marine scientist.

Just wondering why - Don't you get sick of looking at posts like "What is there to do in New York city?" and "Where should I stay at WDW?".

What? - I think you are the Troll and tell us what terrific question you posted ?

Good nite All