Stunning once-in-a-decade ‘ice window’ forms on Alaska lake

Winter landscapes often look starkly beautiful – but this natural wonder is on another level.

Rabbit Lake in Alaska has frozen over due to the dropping temperatures, leading to a stunning ‘ice window’ which allows ice skaters to see clearly through to the lake floor below.

Skate marks have left cris-crossing patterns on the ice above the huge rocks and clear water underneath.

Luc Mehl, an Alaskan outdoor educator, said the ice window was formed thanks to an ‘unusually cold but dry transition into winter’.

The phenomena is thought to be a once-in-a-decade experience, with Luc saying he hadn’t seen anything similar in the 12 years he’s been skating there.

Ice is also more likely to freeze clear if the freezing process happens slowly and during calm weather.

Skaters have left marks across the clear ice (Picture: Luc Mehl via Reuters)

There are still potential dangers as a number of people have fallen through the clear ice (Picture: Luc Mehl via Reuters)

It’s a truly stunning natural phenomena (Picture: Luc Mehl via Reuters)

As lakes freeze from the surface downwards, impurities and air bubbles can be pushed downwards during the gradual freeze, allowing the ice to remain clear.

The lake, not far from Anchorage, froze so the ice was clear but still thick enough to skate on.

But the lake still has its dangers, and some skaters have already fallen through the transparent layer of ice this year.

Luc emphasized the importance of having safety measures in place, adding: ‘Yeah, it is dangerous. And some people even did fall through during that week.’

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