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Spectacular ice eggs have washed onto a beach in Finland

By Gege Li

13 November 2019

New Scientist. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.

Risto Mattila

THE sun glints off this rare display of “ice eggs” spread along 30 metres of Finland’s Marjaniemi beach on Hailuoto Island.

Amateur photographer Risto Mattila stumbled upon the sight during a stroll and told journalists it was unlike anything he had ever seen. Luckily, he had his camera to hand. The ice balls range from the size of an egg to a football. People flocked to the area, hoping to catch a glimpse before they melted.

Waves are key to the ice structures forming, says Walt Meier at the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Colorado. You need enough…

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