Ice Transforms Ordinary Items Into Stunning Masterpieces
Many areas are currently experiencing frigid cold weather, keeping many inside unless they need to travel to work or other necessary trips. But the cold, freezing weather can also display some natural wonders that are unique and beautiful. Some of the images you see may only last for an hour, a few minutes, or even split seconds. It will never be repeated or look exactly the same.
If you don’t live in a cold location, you may never get to experience the splendor that nature dispels on animals, insects, plants, trees, and ordinary every-day items. Some things are highlighted by delicate ice formations and others are completely covered in ice making them nearly impossible to identify.
Look at each of the following slides and see if you immediately know what you’re looking at!
Can These Beautiful Trapped Bubbles Be Dangerous?
Imagine seeing a body of water so full of trapped bubbles, it looks like an effervescent drink poured into a glass. That is what you will find at Lake Abraham in Alberta, Canada. These bubbles are highly-flammable methane that has frozen below the water surface.
Local history states that if one of the bubbles pops, a small explosion can occur. This is an awesome sight, but what if more than one pops and the ice strength is jeopardized? Would this mean more bubbles popping and more explosions? There is only one way to find out…
Ice Storms Overpower Mar Sem Fim
What a ghostly sight! Imagine looking out over Maxwell Bay in Antarctica and seeing a ship stranded below the surface of the ice. The Brazilian yacht Mar Sem Fim (which means “Endless Sea”) sunk on April 7th, 2012. The yacht belonged to a Brazilian journalist, who was on his way to film a documentary.
On their way, the yacht capsized with the journalist and four-man crew. According to those on the vessel, it felt like they were on a bucking bronco. The crew was saved, but it took two days due to weather conditions. All that is left is the creepy image below the sea.
Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign
Hopefully, drivers in Russia are familiar with the shapes of their traffic signs as this sign is nearly unrecognizable. The sign is covered in blowing rain, that froze it into a beautiful sculpture.
The surrounding area looks completely desolate, at least during this snowstorm, so it does not seem like there will be too many people needing to obey this signage. It is probably a good thing!
Froggy Has a Bad Day
This little guy was probably out scouting food or the next lily pad, but his timing was terrible. As he set out on his journey, he was caught in a snow and ice storm. As you can see, his trip was cut short, and he was forever to be remembered as the “Frozen Froggy on the Fence.”
He did, however, provide a powerful sight, with his frosty eyelashes and beard. He did not die in vain.
Blue Translucent Frozen Waterfall
This beautiful blue wall is a waterfall that froze layer-over-layer, creating a magnificent blue wall of ice. The light in the background caused it to have a blue glow. As you can see, the water below is still moving, so the soft mist of the waterfall was light enough to freeze, leaving the water below unfazed.
This is a rare event, as the water often freezes before it reaches the area where it descends, but this one kept flowing until the cold got the best of it.
Work Truck Frozen in Place
I sure hope this did not happen on a Monday. What a terrible way to start the workweek. Looking at this picture makes you feel cold. The freezing landscape around it is desolate, and the vehicle is frozen in place, waiting for a thaw.
Big snow and ice storms can not only disable huge vehicles like this truck but can be detrimental to exposed skin and breathing. Mother nature can be a powerful beast.
Ice Glazed Blooms
What a dichotomy, we think of spring and blooming trees and shrubs, but it seems like these beautiful blooms were not quite ready for an unexpected freeze.
It is apparent that they have been experiencing warm weather to create these nearly flowering buds, but a surprise rainstorm appears to have frozen, leaving their buds captured in time. Hopefully, next spring, they can avoid the ice and create a beautiful flowering display.
Frozen Floral Mural
Timing has to be about perfect to create a beautiful mural like the one in the picture. It appears that the flowers were blooming and hit by an unexpected frost, which made them fall from their branches.
With the ground being slightly frozen and perhaps partially damp, these flowers froze upon landing, creating a one-of-a-kind mural. Luckily, unique sights like these have been captured by talented photographers, so we all can enjoy them.
Monoliths Reaching Towards the Sky
Upon first look, it is hard to determine what these monoliths are. Could they be sculptures or trees? No, they are actually geysers that have been frozen in time.
Geysers, which are most often found in areas that have volcanic activity are a beautiful sight with their water streams plunging upwards toward the heavens. But these two are in sub-zero temperatures that froze them in place, creating beautiful, but temporary ice sculptures.
A Dragonfly Takes His Last Flight
The delicate dragonfly has a lot of natural predators in the wild. They must learn to dodge arthropods, reptiles, frogs, and some types of fish. Luckily they have a very light body and very agile, so many can avoid the predators found in the wild. It is difficult, however, for them to live through frigid cold weather.
This poor guy was probably out looking for dinner to bring home to his mate or babies when the cold spell hit and froze him in his tracks.
The Beauty in Everyday Objects, Even a Trash Can!
Interestingly, the right type of weather can change everyday items into beautiful objects. Even a dirty old trash can, can become a visual delight when covered is a glaze of ice and ice sickles.
This is a common site in some cold-weather locales, but for those that live in warm weather climates, this is something they have probably never seen before. That goes to show that the cold weather, snow, and ice can turn even the most mundane object into a thing of beauty.
The Miracle of a Spider Web
Spider webs are one of the most miraculous things ever found in nature. They are intricate, beautiful, and created by spiders to catch and consume their prey. This web won’t be carrying out its natural function because it is encased in ice.
The ice shows the intricately interwoven patterns of the web, usually seen by the human eye. It is a masterpiece of construction that is created by the creepy crawlies we love to hate.
Waters Effect of a Grand Lighthouse
How many of us enjoy the beauty of a lighthouse? They light the way for water-borne travelers and are the topic of many breathtaking photos. This lighthouse is no different. It is basked in mist and water coming off the water below.
The ice creates beautiful ice formations that will only last until the sun hits it. This lighthouse is in Wisconsin, but they are a common sight along the coasts and areas like this by the great lakes.
This Cherry Bloomed to Soon
Cherry trees are beautiful. They have colorful, fragrant flowers that turn into delectable cherries. This cherry tree either has its seasoned confused or an unexpected cold snapped turned these ready-to-eat cherries into the frozen variety. Most cherry trees start flowering in spring and bear fruit after the blooms mature.
In the case of this tree, it looks like an out-of-season rain and ice storm has frozen the crop on the spot. While it is questionable whether the frozen fruit will be good enough to eat, the resulting picture is priceless.
Be Careful Where You Put Your Toys
All right, this is just plain wrong and may lead to many sleepless nights from children that have seen their favorite Sesame Street Character frozen.
Not only will that garish smile cause nightmares, but it is also a fact that this once lovable character looks like it can commit heinous acts. Keep your child’s precious toys inside for them to enjoy again and again instead of creating a monster from a favorite toy.
At Least They Have Toilet Paper to Freeze
During the initial phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was difficult finding paper products like toilet paper at retailers. Yet, someone had enough to leave it outside and let it freeze.
This is just a travesty! While the rest of us were counting each little square to prolong the life of each roll, someone left theirs outside to become unusable. Let’s hope they run out and remember this wasteful moment.
The Disappearing Staircase
Many haven’t determined if this is a staircase or a short toboggan slide. This staircase is leading downward into…. well, something, for sure. It would be a treacherous trip if you decided to climb the stairs, either up or down.
This stairwell is covered with snow. It has turned an unsightly visual into a picturesque snow scene. It would need plenty of shoveling and salt to make it usable again. Unless you prefer to wait until spring.
39,000-year-Old Wooly Mammoth Remains Preserved in Ice
Wooly mammoths have been extinct for nearly 40,000 years, yet one was discovered, preserved in ice. It was preserved so well that scientists have determined it was less than 10-years old at the time of its death. It is also the only wooly mammoth found with its brain intact.
This is one instance when a freezing climate was crucial to keep the animal preserved for scientific research.
Here’s a Frozen Alligator, and He’s Not Dead
Alligators are creepy when they are lurking around the swamplands or frozen like this creepy guy. Alligators and crocodiles look like prehistoric creatures that should have gone the way of Pterodactyls and T. Rex.
Some alligators can endure cold temperatures and live in states of freezing. They may look dead, but don’t get too close, they may snap you with their big teeth when you least expect it.
No Dinner for You!
This poor fish went out for a snack and froze before he had a chance to enjoy it. It is truly a breathtaking photo of a fish, literally being frozen in action.
Fish are used to freezing conditions, but this greedy guy appears to have jumped out of the water to catch his prey only to be frozen in the process. It is rare to capture a photo like this.
This Bird Didn’t Get His Fish
This poor kingfisher was probably diving into the blue water to find a fish for dinner. Instead, it ended up headfirst into a block of ice, or it made it into the water, only to be frozen once it hit the air. This is a common occurrence.
Fishermen often see birds dead on frozen waterways. The picture was taken in Bavaria and is now a featured museum exhibit to show the dangers of freezing weather.
A Majestic Frozen Lighthouse on a Michigan Shore
The water and mist lapping up from Lake Michigan have decorated this lighthouse in a gorgeous bath of white ice. The top looks almost like a beautifully frosted cake, but note the ice is so thick, it is hard to determine what the structure is.
Another interesting fact, if you look to the top of the photo, there is another lighthouse on the other bank of the waterway. It has no ice on it at all. Was this due to how the wind was blowing?
Bubble Lake
This body of water looks like someone was blowing bubbles, and they were captured under clear glass. The truth is much more frightening. These are bubbles made from methane that is trapped below the surface of the water by ice.
While the picture is interesting and quite beautiful, the bubbles can be dangerous. If the water naturally melts, there is no problem. If the bubble is punctured, it can pop, releasing dangerous methane.