Rare Ice Flowers Bloom in Nizhny Novgorod
During severe frosts in Nizhny Novgorod, a rare natural phenomenon — ice flowers — has been captured. Photographer Natalia Burukhina from NN.RU discovered a whole «meadow» in the Sovetsky District. We explain what this phenomenon is and under what conditions it can be seen.
Experts explain that ice flowers can appear on a very thin ice surface, their petals are also ice plates, but with veins resembling leaves.
For the flowers to «grow», the air temperature must be below -20 degrees Celsius (-4°F). Absolutely windless weather is also necessary. Under favorable conditions, a layer supersaturated with moisture forms on the ice, right at its surface. Water droplets crystallize upon sudden cooling and settle on the thin ice.
The phenomenon forms very quickly. In a few seconds, the length of a petal can reach 10 centimeters (about 4 inches). They also «wither» just as swiftly: as soon as the weather changes or the ice layer becomes thicker.
Ice patterns on windows are also an amazing creation of nature. It seems as if an artist«s brush is painting elegant pictures on the glass. When frosts came to Nizhny Novgorod, photographer NN.RU took a series of photos of the ice lace decorating house windows.
