Lake Michigan Ice Cover

Description

Lake Michigan in winter is a sight to behold, with a fascinating combination of ice and waves creating surreal landscapes. Due to its vast size, the lake rarely freezes entirely, but near the shore, ice formations build up as waves continuously crash against the frozen edges. This leads to dramatic ice shelves, jagged ice formations, and sometimes even “ice volcanoes”—cone-shaped mounds that erupt with water when waves push through cracks in the ice.

Strong winds can create powerful waves that break up the ice, sending chunks floating in the frigid water. When temperatures fluctuate, the freezing and thawing cycle can produce intricate layers of ice, sometimes forming smooth glass-like surfaces, while other times, jagged ice ridges appear along the shoreline.