when it gets really cold there's plenty of reasons and motivation to head somewhere warmer to escape the dreaded winter. on the other hand, most likely there are some amazing winter scenes outside. if you dress properly and take proper precautions there's no reason not to go out and explore. you will probably be pleasantly surprised
when it's really cold it doesn't snow much here. the heavy snows come when the temperature is between 0 and -10C and the wind is from the east or west. but when the wind is from the north we can get arctic conditions and ice forms everywhere there is water, even in the sea. sea ice is not like fresh water ice and it will vary a lot depending on salinity, wave action, temperature and more.
here in town there is a tiny well protected cove called Sildahølet that is popular in the summer among families with very young children. there is no surf at all and the water is very shallow so you can't swim but it is great for the youngest ones to play around in and maybe catch a sand crab or two.. the beach is nice and sandy but there are a number of larger and smaller rocks smoothed by ancient glaciers spread around.
since the cove is so shallow and undisturbed by wave action it's one of the first places where ice forms in a cold spell with light northerly winds. while there are no waves, there is a rising and falling tide. during high tide many of the rocks are submerged but when the tide is low they reappear above the surface. the ice forms continuously as the tide rises and falls so a thin layer of ice forms above the rocks when they are submerged. as the tide sinks so does the ice. it bends and/or breaks around the rocks creating this magical effect.
here you can see open water just outside the mouth of the miniature cove. the island with the lighthouse is one of the major reasons the cove gets no surf
the opening of the cove to the sound is very narrow. nobody dives from the platform on days like these
it only takes 2-3 days of -15C for enough ice to form so it is safe for an adult to walk on but it is not at all flat and very slippery so you end up sliding all around down the little hills. the ice forms so quickly and is strong because the surface seawater contains. a high level of fresh water from two nearby rivers that empty into the fjord. the river water is less dense than sea water so as long as they are not mixed by wave action the salinity remains low
there are not many places that meet all the conditions required for this amazing phenomenon to occur. it has to be very cold, the water has to be protected from waves and open to the south while the wind is in the north. the water must be shallow with rocks that are exposed only during lower tides. and there must be a source of fresh water to float on top of the seawater. and if it snows it gets covered up so even if it's there you won't see it. so i hope you enjoyed seeing it, i certainly did and am happy to share the beauty of this incredible natural scene
