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Lavender, a Symbol of Saudi Arabia’s Hospitality

Saudi Arabia's Lavender - SPA
Saudi Arabia's Lavender - SPA
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Lavender, a Symbol of Saudi Arabia’s Hospitality

Saudi Arabia's Lavender - SPA
Saudi Arabia's Lavender - SPA

Lavender flowers dress Saudi deserts during Spring, reflecting the unique natural landscape of the Kingdom.

The northern regions of the Kingdom are abundant in shamrock, chrysanthemum, and lavender flowers that flourish in various degrees of purple that go in harmony with the desert landscape and give it vigor.

This has prompted Saudi Arabia to choose purple as the new color for its carpets during ceremonial and formal occasions, which includes receiving heads of states, official guests, ministers, and ambassadors.

The Kingdom is one of the few countries that no longer use the traditional red carpets during official occasions.

The idea to use purple for ceremonial carpets came as a joint initiative between the Saudi Ministry of Culture and the Royal Protocol.

Purple was chosen as a touristic and cultural symbol, inspired by the lavender flowers that bloom in spring and cover the Kingdom’s desert landscapes.

Notably, official purple carpets appeared for the first time when Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomed Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed.

The initiative to change the color of ceremonial carpets reflects the ongoing development in Saudi Arabia under Vision 2030. It also attributes special importance to the roots of Saudi history and civilization.

Saudi Arabia placed special emphasis on its cultural identity and international appearance after the launch of Vision 2030, contributing to the promotion of various sectors such as tourism, arts, and archaeology.

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Toxic Algae Killing Marine Life Off Australian Coast

This handout photo taken on March 29, 2025 and released on May 15, 2025 by OzFish shows a dead ornate cowfish washed ashore at Victor Harbor in South Australia. (Photo by Brad MARTIN / OZFISH / AFP)
This handout photo taken on March 29, 2025 and released on May 15, 2025 by OzFish shows a dead ornate cowfish washed ashore at Victor Harbor in South Australia. (Photo by Brad MARTIN / OZFISH / AFP)
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Toxic Algae Killing Marine Life Off Australian Coast

This handout photo taken on March 29, 2025 and released on May 15, 2025 by OzFish shows a dead ornate cowfish washed ashore at Victor Harbor in South Australia. (Photo by Brad MARTIN / OZFISH / AFP)
This handout photo taken on March 29, 2025 and released on May 15, 2025 by OzFish shows a dead ornate cowfish washed ashore at Victor Harbor in South Australia. (Photo by Brad MARTIN / OZFISH / AFP)

A vast bloom of toxic algae is killing more than 200 species of marine life off the southern coast of Australia, scientists and conservation groups say.

The algae -- Karenia mikimotoi -- appeared in waters around South Australia state in March, causing mass deaths in species including sharks, rays, crabs and octopuses.

"There are carcasses littering beaches," said Brad Martin, a manager of the non-profit fish conservation group Ozfish.

"It is common for our volunteers to say: 'We walked for one kilometer along the beach and saw 100 dead rays and other marine life'," he told AFP.

Beaches on wildlife-rich tourist draws such as Kangaroo Island, Yorke Peninsula and Fleurieu Peninsula have been affected.

The bloom stretches across 4,400 square kilometers (1,700 square miles), Martin said -- an area larger than Japan or Germany.

Karenia mikimotoi has been detected around the world since the 1930s, including off Japan, Norway, the United States and China where it has disrupted local tourism and fishery industries, causing millions of dollars worth of damage.

But Martin said South Australia had not previously experienced a toxic algae bloom of this scale or duration.

The South Australian government said the event is thought to have been driven by a marine heatwave, as well as relatively calm marine conditions.

Marine biologist Shauna Murray, who identified the algae species for the authorities, said it damages the gills of fish and prevents them from breathing.

"It is not pleasant," said Murray, from the University of Technology Sydney.

"It will probably take some time for the ecosystem to recuperate."

While conditions usually ease towards the end of April, there had been no relief yet, South Australian Environment Minister Susan Close said this month.

"We need a big change in weather to break this thing up -- there is nothing we can do to precipitate this," she told national broadcaster ABC.

In the meantime, South Australian authorities have urged beachgoers to avoid swimming in water that is discolored or foamy, warning that it can irritate the skin and affect breathing.

Climate change has led to an increase in the frequency and duration of marine heatwaves across Australia, which significantly affects marine ecosystems.