UNBELIEVABLE FROZEN WONDERS

STRIPED ICEBERG

What looks like an artificially dyed iceberg is actually a

completely natural phenomenon. These astonishing Icelandic

icebergs were left with bizarre colourful lines created by

sea algae and sediment picked up by the icebergs on

their way to the sea.

ICE SHELF

An ice shelf is a thick floating platform of ice that forms where

a glacier or ice sheet flows down to a coastline and onto

the ocean surface. Ice shelves are only found in Antarctica,

 Greenland and Canada. The Ross ice shelf (featured in

the picture) is the largest in Antarctica.

ICICLE

One of the most common winter wonders, icicles form during

sunny but freezing weather, when ice or snow melted by

sunlight refreezes. Over time, continued water runoff

will cause the icicle to grow. Occasionally, icicles

can reach up to several metres in length.

ICE FLOWERS

Also known as window frost, ice flowers form when a glass pane

is exposed to very cold air on the outside and warmer, moderately

moist air on the inside. The artistic-like pattern of this

phenomenon is caused by the imperfections

(e.g. scratches or dust) of the glass surface.

SNOW ROLLER

Common on hilly terrain, snow rollers form when strong winds

blow moist snow along the ground, piling it up into a cylinder-

shaped ball. When a snow roller gets too heavy to be blown

around anymore, it stops where it lies. It can grow as

large as a barrel or oil drum.

ICE SHOVE

An ice shove is a surge of ice from an ocean or large lake onto

the shore caused by ocean currents, strong winds, or temperature

differences. Creating piles up to 12m (40ft) high, ice shoves can

even damage buildings and plants that are near to the body of water.

SNOWFLAKE

One of the most amazing frozen wonders is actually the most

common. Snowflakes consist of an unimaginable number of

water molecules growing at different rates and in different patterns.

BLUE ICE

What looks like a gigantic ice castle rising from the sea is actually

an astounding example of a rare phenomenon known as the

blue ice. In this phenomenon, ice bubbles are compressed

and light at the red end of the spectrum is absorbed,

leaving the ice masses blue in colour.