Apostle Islands Ice Formations, February 2014

During the winter of 2014, the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in Wisconsin experienced a period of extreme cold, leading to the formation of spectacular ice caves along the mainland shore. These natural formations are created when waves freeze onto the sandstone cliffs, and dripping water from above forms icicles and ice curtains. The caves are a temporary natural phenomenon, accessible only when Lake Superior freezes over sufficiently to allow safe passage. Their ephemeral beauty draws visitors who brave the cold to witness these unique geological structures before they melt with the spring thaw.