By: Alex
Finnish amateur photographer Risto Matilla was walking along the beach when he discovered that the shoreline, spanning about 30 meters, was covered in “ice eggs” — some as small as chicken eggs, others as large as soccer balls. Having lived in the area for 25 years, he had never seen anything like it before. Experts say this phenomenon only occurs under very specific conditions.
▲(Photo by Globalnews / Risto Mattila)
The beach where the large number of ice eggs appeared is located in Marjaniemi on Hailuoto Island in western Finland. Finnish meteorological expert Jouni Vainio stated that this occurrence is not common and requires a precise combination of weather conditions to form, which is why it only happens about once a year on average.
▲(Photo by yleuutiset @IG)
He explained that the conditions needed to form ice eggs include slightly sub-zero temperatures, water temperature near freezing, a shallow and gently sloping sandy beach, calm waves, and a “core” — such as a snowflake, a small stone, or even a small piece of floating ice. The small “core” begins to freeze first, and under the gentle action of the waves, it rolls back and forth, continuously accumulating tiny ice particles and smoothing its edges while gradually growing larger, eventually forming an ice ball.
▲(Photo by yleuutiset @IG)
Vainio said Matilla was very lucky, because if the temperature were just a little higher, the ice eggs would melt; if the wind and waves were too weak, the ice would form into one large block, but if they were too strong, it would prevent the formation of the ice eggs.
▲(Photo by yleuutiset @IG)
▲(Photo by marjaran @IG)
▲(Photo by railikujala @IG)
▲(Photo by ailamatt @IG)
▲(Photo by ailamatt @IG)
▲(Photo by sirpatero @IG)
▲(Photo by railikujala @IG)
Source: The Sputnik News