Winter facts from around the world
Snow…Ice…Winter… Some interesting ‘cold’ facts from around the world…
1. If you think we’re having a ‘cold’ winter…think again. The coldest town on earth is Oymyakon, Russia, which has been dubbed the “Pole of Cold”, where temperature averages about -51°C in January (middle of winter). The all-time record low temperature was noted -71°C in February of 2013. The village is generally considered the coldest inhabited area on Earth.
2. The coldest temperature ever recorded in the world was -128 degrees ˚C, at Vostok Station in Antarctica in 1983.
3. Ice: Black ice is extremely dangerous, because it’s almost impossible to see and therefore able to cause a large amount of damage and accidents. Black ice usually forms in a very thin, very slippery layer, usually found on structures such as bridges.
4. No two snowflakes are alike. Snowflakes start as ice crystals that freeze around small pieces of dust in the air. As they fall to the earth, the ice crystals join together to form a snowflake. The shape of each snowflake is determined by temperature, wind, the amount of time it takes to fall to the ground, and the amount of water vapor in the air.
5. The largest snowflake ever recorded; according to the Guinness Book of World Records was a 15 inch wide, 8 inch thick snowflake in Fort Keogh, Montana, USA in 1887.
6. World’s Tallest Snowman: The people of Bethel and the surrounding areas worked 5 months to plan and build the 113 foot, 7 inch tall snowman. On 17 February 1999, the actual size and height of the snowman was recorded.
7. Snow: The all-time world record for the largest snowfall in a single day was set in the United States on 4 December 1913 in Georgetown, Colorado. The city received a staggering 63 inches of snow – more than five feet.
8. Chionophobia: People with chionophobia are simply said to have a fear of snow. One of the largest components to this fear is the idea of becoming snowbound. People with this phobia will rarely venture out into the snow for fear of being stranded.