In Finland, people found something special in nature called “ice eggs.” These are icy balls that form under specific conditions, making them unique and fascinating to see. A photographer named Risto Mattila and his wife discovered them while walking on Marjaniemi beach on Hailuoto island. The beach was covered in lots of small icy balls, stretching out over 30 meters (98ft), which was really amazing to see.
Mattila said the biggest egg was as big as a football, which is very impressive because they’re made naturally. He was surprised as a hobby photographer and had never seen anything like it. Experts say this doesn’t happen often and needs very specific conditions.
Joυпi Vaiпio, who knows a lot about ice, said that under certain conditions, something called “ice eggs” can form. These conditions include having the right temperature in the air and water, a beach that is not too deep and has a gentle slope, waves that aren’t too big, and something for the ice to form around. This something is like a seed that collects ice around it. As the waves move it along the beach, the icy balls get bigger and make a really cool sight.
Dr. James Carter, a retired professor from Illinois State University who knows a lot about rocks and land, says that autumn is the best time to see this cool thing happen. During this time, the top of the water starts turning into ice, making a slushy stuff that moves around with the waves. When this slushy stuff gets pushed onto the beach, it can start to freeze and make small balls of ice called ice eggs. Watching this happen is really interesting and is just one of the amazing things that nature does.
These icy balls might seem like man-made decorations, but they’re actually natural. They form under very specific weather and environmental conditions. Because they’re so rare, finding them is really special. If you want to see this phenomenon, it’s important to visit during autumn and watch out for the right conditions.
