By: Alex
In late January this year, the American Midwest and the Great Lakes region were hit by the Polar Vortex, with multiple areas recording historic low temperatures — the lowest even reaching minus 30°C. Locals joked that it was even colder than the Arctic (related report)! By March, as temperatures began to rise, the previously ice-covered Lake Michigan started to thaw. The ice, moved by the currents, not only gradually shattered but also piled up into fascinating formations, creating the illusion of stepping into a blue wonderland — almost like entering the world of the movie *Frozen*.
Although the lake surface is covered in ice, the water beneath continues to flow. The currents push the ice upward, eventually forming magical patterns. Many locals have headed to the lakeshore to admire and photograph this rare sight. However, the U.S. Coast Guard has warned the public that the ice is only safe to view from a distance. People should not assume that stacked ice is sturdy — during this season, it is slowly melting and breaking apart, making walking on the fragmented ice extremely dangerous.
Source: Joel Bissell/Michigan Live