Blue Ice on the Great Lakes

The sub-zero temperatures of the last two weeks have left a wondrous gift on the shores of Lake Huron: Blue Ice!  All along the sunrise coast from Au Gres, to Tawas, to Oscoda, and Alpena, right past the beach of the Sweetwater Sea Bed and Breakfast, you will see beautiful turquoise sparkling on the frozen surface of the lake.  This is a rare sight on the Great Lakes because certain conditions must be present, and the lakes do not always cooperate.

The blue ice forms when temperatures are low enough to freeze the top layer of the lake. The lake needs to be calm enough for the waves to slowly move underneath this layer and break the ice into shards.  These shards pile up into jagged mounds. The shards are highly compressed, clean, fresh water without bubbles.  When they are stacked together, they absorb long light waves and reflect back the shorter blue light waves.

Here is a link to a great video of Lake Huron forming the shard mounds.  It was taken locally right down the street from our Inn.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1913944665910524

Here at the Sweetwater Sea Bed and Breakfast, we see a large area of sharp, jagged ice reaching far into the lake, double the size of our beach. We had snow right as the ice was forming, so we see whatever areas with turquoise spotted throughout.  The sunlight catches the tops of the ice, creating a sparkling rug landscape that is a sight to behold. At the ice edge, the water becomes liquid  during the day.  It freezes again at night, and each morning we wake to a larger ice area.  

I am one of these people who actually loves winter! I am blessed to live in a place that offers endless changing views.  I do go outside all snuggled in my warm winter gear but if I am honest, I am not a fan of cold.  I stay inside more.  It’s the same for our guests. They do not need to go outside to see winter.  We have large picture windows throughout the Inn with comfortable sitting areas that allow you to sit and enjoy the scenes all toasty by the fireplace with a cup of tea or hot chocolate.

Here in the Oscoda , Harrisville area, there is plenty to keep you happy for a winter getaway.  Come visit us and see the beauty a wintery Lake Huron offers.

Another link to check out about blue ice on the Great Lakes:     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdvhxXJhM-4