When the snow blankets the landscape, the stage is set for the explorers who love being outdoor, and nature enthusiasts. With a range of winter experiences, one can simply enjoy this cold season by immersing in a realm where nature has so much to offer. It’s about embracing the charm that comes with winter.
From ice fishing to snowmobiling, from hiking to observing the wildlife footprints, there is so much to do in the winter. Since the last few years have revealed so much of the magic of winter, spotting the ice-flowers on the windows, and frost flowers along the snowbanks, this winter I couldn’t wait too long before heading out, in search of some interesting ice formations.
As the water freezes, the molecules form a crystalline structure that spaces the molecules further apart than in the liquid water. If the freezing occurs at a steady rate, frost flowers begin to “grow”, while the molecules are regularly arranged in a hexagonal lattice.
Slower crystal growth in colder and drier atmospheres produces more hexagonal symmetry. Depending of the temperature and humidity, ice crystals can develop into many symmetric shapes, reason we can find crystals in the different shapes of columns, needles, plates, and dendrites. Or mixed pattern.
Ice exhibits at least nineteen phases, depending on temperature and pressure. When water is cooled rapidly, then amorphous ice can form, a non-crystalline, or “vitreous” ice, which lacks the molecular arrangement.
Depending on the presence of impurities, it can appear transparent or a more or less opaque bluish-white colour. Also, the presence of impurities helps the crystalline structure have a solid base, where the crystals start “growing”.
I feel so lucky to be able to find these gems in the past weekend, as the winter has been quite mild in the southern part of Ontario, and we need temperatures below minus 10 degrees Celsius to get a chance to find them.
Glad to see you here, hope you enjoyed my little findings😍
1000 Places and Memories 
Beautiful photos. 😊
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Thank you!! xx
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Fabulous pictures!
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Thank you! Have a lovely day😊
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Very nice. The ice makes similar artworks here in Finland too. 😊
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Mother Nature is very skillful with such delicate artwork. Thank you for your kind note😊
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Great captures. Love the icy shapes, patterns and formations that form by the water.
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It’s always fun to see these ice formations, they are never the same. Have a lovely evening, xx
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These are so beautiful 🙂 I love ice and for me, it’s more than simply frozen water – the various forms of ice can tell a story and they look like art! Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx
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These little artworks never cease to mesmerize me. They look different every time I find them, and I started having so much fun looking for them🙂 Have a beautiful week ahead! xx
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🥰🥰🥰
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Nature’s paintbrush, they’re all so beautiful when you stop to look. 😊 Maggie
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Thank you Maggie! Always something to wonder and to ponder when out, in the middle of the nature. Hope all is well! Any new travel plans for this year?😊
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We’re going to Mexico and Guatemala in a couple of weeks for a while. You guys?
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Exciting to go South this time of the year!
I’ve heard that Mexico city residents are facing a water shortage. Hope the crisis will go over soon!
No big plans for now, here, but who knows?😍
Enjoy your trip!! xx
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Yes, we hope so too, as well as the looming election…
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The patterns of nature are so fascinating… these are all great!
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Thank you❤️
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O splendoare !💙
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❤
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