Natural Phenomenon

Ice Circle An ice disc, ice circle, or ice pan is a natural phenomenon that occurs in slow moving water in cold climates. Ice circles are thin and circular slabs of ice that rotate slowly in the water. It is believed[citation needed] that they form in eddy currents. Ice discs have most frequently been observed in Scandinavia and North America, but they are occasionally recorded as far south as England and Wales. An ice disc was observed in Wales in December 2008 and another was reported in England in January 2009. An ice disc was observed on the Sheyenne River in North Dakota in December 2013. An ice circle of approximately 50 ft. in diameter was observed and photographed in Lake Katrine, New York on the Esopus Creek on January 23, 2014. Snow and freezing temperatures have battered many parts of the U.S in January, with temperatures as low as -10 °C/14 °F recorded in many States. In Idaho, the extreme weather led to a rare sighting of an Ice disk on the Snare River on January 22, 2014. An unusual natural phenomenon, ice disks occur in slow moving water in cold climates and can vary in size, with circles more than 15 metres (49 ft) in diameter observed. Ice circles vary in size but circles more than 15 metres (49 ft) in diameter have been observed.