CLEVELAND, Ohio– Northeast Ohio has been gripped with frigid temperates lately. Schools have canceled and wind chill advisories have been in effect.
Although these aren’t ideal conditions for outdoor leisure time, they are the perfect conditions for nature to create some spectacular ice formations along the shore of Lake Erie.
Cold temperatures, strong winds and waves combine to blast the shoreline with spray, coating anything it can touch with water that quickly freezes. This process repeats until there is a thick coating of ice on beaches, breakwalls, bushes and piers.
Anyone that has dipped candles understands the idea. Many thin layers soon create something beautiful.
Some of the ice even seems to defy gravity, growing horizontally as the wind pushes the water as it freezes.
Visitors to the lakeshore brave enough to battle the subzero wind chills can expect monochromatic images that look almost otherworldly. It is best to try and capture photos on a clear, sunny day, which will add contrast to the ice and allow it to “pop” a bit more in the photos.
Popular spots to find interesting ice creations include Edgewater Park, Mentor Headlands, and the Marblehead Peninsula.
A reminder to use caution around icy shores. Ice along the shore of Lake Erie, known as shelf ice, can be dangerous and unstable. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources emphasizes that no ice is completely safe.