The coastal city of Qingdao, Shandong province, has been hit by the largest algal bloom this year, on Thursday. The city has removed 7, 335 tons of algae, off its beaches, since the seaweed started proliferating on June 5. Several other coastal cities in Shandong province have also been affected by the spread of algae, including Lianyungang, Rizhao, Yantai and Weihai. The local governments of the aforementioned cities have taken measures to minimize the impacts that algal blooms have on the coastal and marine ecosystems. [Photo/China.org.cn]