Top 5 winter wonders of the world

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Ice sculpture in St Petersburg

Most of the northern hemisphere is in the middle of winter, and maybe cold temperatures are not everyone’s cup of tea, but traveling in winter can bring some really unique (if chilly) experiences. Instead of escaping to a tropical island, you can brave the cold and see some sights that are even better than a sun-drenched beach. So don your warmest winter coat, buy a thermos and head out into the cold to see the top 5 winter wonders of the world.

The Sunken Bell in Italy

Rechensee, or Lago di Resia in the Italian province of Bolzano-Bozen is an artificial lake that flooded over 150 homes and vast areas of cultivated land in 1950. The small village of Graun was completely submerged, save the tower of a 14th century church which is still visible above the waters of the lake. In winter, the surface of the lake is frozen solid, and you can walk right to the tower.

The sight of a church tower poking out of a lake is definitely a strange sight, and taking a walk on said lake until your reach the bell tower is a very interesting experience. The bell was removed a week before the valley was flooded, but locals say that on clear winter days you can still hear the ring of the bell.

Reindeer migration in Sweden

The herds of reindeer in northern Sweden migrate in winter to the summer pastures towards the forests in the west, where they can find food more easily.

The tens of thousands of animals don’t make their journey alone, they are accompanied by their semi-nomadic Sami owners. The Sami live life in the rhythm of nature, and making part of the journey with them will teach you a lot about their way of life and their traditions, even if snowmobiles and even helicopters are used for herding nowadays. Besides, Sweden’s frozen lakes and seas of snow make for a very compelling sight.

St Petersburg in winter

St Petersburg is an amazing city at any time of the year, but in winter it transforms into a genuine wonderland. While other cities enter a state of semi-hibernation in winter, the inhabitants of St Petersburg make the most of the cold weather.

In the temperatures are really low, it’s all the more reason to drink vodka from ice glasses, and create sculptures from ice. The tradition of ice sculpting dates back to 1740, when Empress Anna commissioned an entire palace built of ice.

Northern lights in Canada

The town of Churchill in Hudson Bay is one of the best places on earth to see the northern lights, due to the low light pollution and beautiful scenery. For about 300 nights of the year, you can see the northern lights in all their glory, and if you’re lucky, the display will last for hours on end.

Korean Ice Festivals

The Koreans have knack for turning blocks of ice into amazing sculptures, but admiring ice art is not all that you can do at the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival. If you are curious about ice fishing for trout, you can try it in this virtually untouched region. If you are brave enough, you can try catching trout with your bare hands, and eat your catch grilled or even raw.

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Comments on Top 5 winter wonders of the world

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Glamis Camping wrote on January 11, 2011:

I’ve always wanted to go to Russia. It seems such a historical and gorgeous place, and St Petersburg at wintertime seems like a perfect excuse.

 

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