In Finland temperature gets as low as -40°C (-40°F) in winter, and in such weather trees get covered in so much snow and frost that it makes the landscape look as if it was from another planet.

The Northern part of Finland is mostly covered by the Boreal forest, the largest territorial biome in the world, which freezes for about 6 months of the year. It’s so cold there that forest trees actually freeze to look like ice sculptures, creating an otherworldly sight.

The long towering pieces of ice, plastered against the backdrop of blankets of white, makes for a breathtaking view unique to Finland’s forests.

The hauntingly beautiful frozen landscape looks and feels alive as you walk through. The shrubs, rocks, and trees become enveloped in pure white, creating amazing forms. Sometimes, they look like an army of snowmen scattered all over the forest. Other times they look like weird animals lying in wait motionless.

The forest becomes lively during the day, whereby the short hours of sunshine make the snow glisten.

But how can these trees freeze in such unique forms? Surprisingly, Northern Finland has quite a lot of humidity, and the ambient air is wet and dense. In fact, you can feel moisture in the air constantly in all seasons. This humidity in the air means that there are many water droplets up in the atmosphere. When temperatures fall under zero, these water droplets come into contact with the trees and keep freezing onto them.

And that’s how the trees become covered with snow and ice to form such unique shapes. It all has to do with the excess humidity.

Frozen goblins. Image credit: lsten

A good place to check this winter wonderland out, is Riisitunturi National Park, which is famous for its breathtaking winter sceneries. You can go on a beautiful hike through huts scattered around the open wilderness there, and arrive in a landscape of beautiful natural ice sculptures. The park is situated about 60 km away from the closest airport, Kussamo airport.

Truly a unique sight.