Lakes in Alaska are covered with sheets of ice that look like glass. This phenomenon occurs when the beginning of winter is extremely frosty but also dry. This encouraged residents of nearby Anchorage to put on skates and skate on the frozen surface.
At the end of October, residents of Anchorage, Alaska, were treated to an extraordinary sight. Some of the nearby lakes froze in an unusual way – the ice was actually perfectly transparent, so the rocks covering the bottoms of the reservoirs could be seen through its thick layer. Some of the lakes, including Rabbit Lake just east of town, were even suitable for skating.
“Ice Window”
As rescue instructor Luc Mehl, who specializes in operations on broken ice, told Reuters, the “ice window” effect appears no more than once a decade. It occurs when the first frost is particularly severe, but the weather is snowless and dry.
– Usually these lakes are covered with snow before the water freezes. I’ve been skating here for about 12 years and I’ve never seen anything like this. These were very unusual conditions, he said.
Mehl’s video shows people skating on a frozen and translucent lake. The instructor admitted that the view of the completely devoid of vegetation and perfectly clean bottom was fascinating. However, before anyone stepped onto the frozen surface, it was necessary to check whether driving on it would be safe.
– We test the strength of the ice before we step on it. I walked the entire circumference of the lake, checking for strength, and the thickness was at least 10 centimeters in every place. This means that the ice is strong and suitable for skating, Mehl explained.
Main photo source: Reuters/Luc Mehl