This week, a natural anomaly characteristic of cold weather — 'ice pancakes' or pancake ice — was observed in the Iecava River, reported to the LETA agency by the head of the public relations department of the State Environmental Service (SES), Aija Jālinska.
At the beginning of the week, residents of Iecava reported to the authorities what they considered an unusual phenomenon in the Iecava River. In response to the information received, representatives of the State Environmental Service (SES) went to the specified location. During the inspection, it was established that the white round formations are accumulations of ice, snow, and water foam of a specific shape and type, which the inspectors called 'ice pancakes' (ledus pankūkas). No environmental pollution was recorded.
As explained by Jālinska, 'ice pancakes' form in cold weather when small pieces of ice, snow, and foam in the water rotate under the influence of the current and gradually freeze together, forming round flat ice discs. They are usually observed during the period when the water body is not yet completely frozen, but the air temperature is already low enough to promote ice formation.
The SES expresses gratitude to those residents who actively report possible violations and concerning observations.
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