Aliens on the coast? It's just dead aloes, folks
From time to time, photos appear on the internet that strongly stimulate viewers' imaginations. The same happened with the photograph we are discussing. According to some internet users, it shows "aliens" on the coast of South Africa. However, these "creatures" are completely harmless and definitely not from outer space. Allow us to clarify.
Photographer Jan Vorster, after posting photos from the South African coast, received numerous inquiries about the area's safety. Many people believed his photos indeed depicted aliens. The reality was quite different.
Creatures not to be afraid of
The photos depict nothing more than dead aloes (Aloe ferox, commonly known as bitter aloe). Vorster noticed these peculiar forms while walking on the beach in the Western Cape province. Bitter aloe is a species native to southern Africa. It is also grown as an ornamental plant in the United States. Bitter aloe is also cultivated for medicinal purposes, as its gel has many healing properties.
Once he posted the photos on Facebook, they quickly gained popularity in several local groups. Some were convinced the photos showed sea spiders, while others even warned of aliens.
Vorster was genuinely surprised by the reactions he received. He did not expect anyone to actually believe his photos depicted beings from other planets. To him, it was just an intriguing observation. Concerned internet users asked whether it was safe in the water and whether what appeared in the photos was only visible on the beach at night.
Vorster did not anticipate the photos would create such a stir. He used a digital Nikon D7100 camera with an 18-140 mm lens to take them.
