Alaska News

Photos: Ice bubbles at Potter Marsh

Ice floats! Everybody knows that. What you might not know is that ice is one of the few substances that weigh less in its solid state then it does in its liquid state -- and if that was not true, we might not be here. If ice were like most substances, it would sink to the bottom of lakes and rivers when it froze, and the body of water would completely freeze, cutting off a source of drinking water for animals and humans and stifling the growth of aquatic plants.

Another feature of floating ice? The gas bubbles that become trapped under the ice. Ice bubbles may not be as important the evolution of life, but the patterns do make for interesting photographs. This year turned out to a banner year for such ice bubbles at Potter Marsh, with much of the marsh covered in clear ice.

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