A circle of several kilometers can be too large to be recognized when you are on it. On Lake Baikal, rings in the ice caught the attention of satellite observers and astronauts.
Measurements made under the frozen blanket showed warmer water swirls. Their edges know currents capable of thinning the ice more than in the center. The visible shape on the surface thus tells of movements that the ice hides from the observer.
The explanation does not turn the phenomenon into mere decoration. Thinned ice can be dangerous, while the full ring remains difficult to perceive from the ground. The change of scale here is decisive: to understand what is happening under his feet, you sometimes have to start by looking from space.
What we know
The role of vortices is supported by measurements. Their formation and movement depend on several factors; not all frozen lakes have these rings.
To go to the source
References consulted on September 20, 2026. Linked pages may be in another language.
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