Friday, May 2, 2014

Yukon River Breakup

Over the past weeks, with temperatures above freezing (during the days), the snow has been melting, the ice has been getting soft an porous and finally, the river-ice broke here yesterday.

We had been watching and waiting all day, but nothing much had happened until about 7pm when Anya and I were sitting at the dining-table and I half heard and half felt a rumble. I looked out the window when the solid sheet of ice started to drift by slowly. I grabbed Anya and called to Gaetan, and we all headed to the river.

Here are some images from the time right before, during and after breakup.

Before: Ice cover is still largely intact and anchored to the shore, overflow along the sides, the water level is rising slowly, 29.4.2014 - 1pm

During: Ice sheets are moving and grinding against each other, the water level is coming up quickly,
water moving slowly, seemingly with effort, 1.5.2014 - 8pm

After: Ice "parked" along the shoreline, water moving freely, 2.5.2014 - 7.30am

1 comment:

  1. Awesome! Good to "hear" from you and good to know that spring has somehow arrived there as well :D Here in Sweden (south) we still have frosty nights but some days we already had temperatures around 20 C. All the trees are turning green and the cherry trees blossom. Can't believe that in about just 6 weeks it is Mid-Summer :D Hugs to all of you! / Michi

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