Huge, Extraordinary Snowballs Found on Russian Beach

Siberia has been known for its frigid temperatures especially during or near winter time. However, it is an interesting phenomenon to find natural snowballs on coasts along Russia. Locals are surprised to find giant spherical white objects along the shores of Russian beaches. Upon closer inspection, they found out that these small orbs of white are actually snowballs. The question of who and how these snowballs are made was a mystery until experts came in.

Experts say that this phenomenon is caused by a rare environmental process where ice is being rolled by both wind and current. Cross-section analysis of these gigantic snowballs shows alternate layering of sand and ice, which means that it has taken quite some time to be formed and to reach the size that it is in. These giant snowballs are located in the village of Nyda, which is just above the Arctic circle. Surveys have reported that it covered a total length of 11 miles along the coastline in the Arctic Circle Some of these snowballs were so large they had a diameter of three feet. As explained, a high tide has brought these orbs to land, and as the water has retreated, it left the snowballs along the shore -- left for the public to enjoy.

Locals have claimed that this is one of the rare times this occurred in the area, while some claim that they have never seen such a phenomenon before. Residents seem to have enjoyed the sight that it immediately attracted some social media frenzy, each netizen taking a pose in between gigantic snowballs. Scientists reassured the public that it is a combination of perfect local conditions that has caused this strange but beautiful sight, and there should be no cause for alarm. In 2014, a similar phenomenon has been reported along the Gulf of Finland and also in Lake Michigan in 2015.