Arab Weather - Imagine sitting at home on the shores of a frozen lake when suddenly you hear a roaring sound rapidly approaching. You step outside to be surprised by massive blocks of ice advancing toward you, crushing trees, fences, and even house walls. The scene may look like something from a science fiction movie, but it is actually a rare and strange phenomenon known as an "ice tsunami."
It is a sudden and violent surge of ice masses accumulated on the surface of frozen lakes or seas towards land, with a speed and force that makes it a real "tsunami", but instead of water, it is made of solid ice that creeps and destroys everything in its path.
This phenomenon is formed as a result of a set of complex atmospheric and physical conditions, the most prominent of which are:
When these factors combine, the ice begins to move at speeds of up to 60 centimeters per second, creating a destructive sound. Its destructive power is considered enormous due to its solid mass and constant movement.
Ice tsunamis have been recorded in a number of cold countries and regions around the world, most notably:
They most often occur during the spring, when temperatures begin to rise after a long winter, causing the ice to expand, crack, and begin moving toward land.
Although this phenomenon moves relatively slowly, its destructive power is great and may lead to:
Scenes documented by cameras
In 2012, a video captured a rare sight of an ice tsunami hitting the shores of a lake in Canada, as the ice crept eerily silently along, destroying several shoreline cottages.
In 2021, the city of Khabarovsk, Russia, witnessed a new manifestation of this phenomenon, as blocks of ice rushed toward the coast, a scene captured on camera and astonishing local residents.
An ice tsunami is not just a rare sight or a strange weather phenomenon. It is a true reminder of the power of nature, and that even the most tranquil elements, like ice, can transform in an instant into an unstoppable force.
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