What Are Mormonts?
Mormonts are large, bear-shaped ice formations that develop on frozen lakes and rivers during prolonged cold spells. They appear as rounded, humped masses of ice that resemble a bear lying on the surface.
How Mormonts Form
Mormonts form when strong winds push thin ice sheets together, causing pressure ridges and buckling. Continuous freezing and wind-driven compaction shape the ice into elongated, bear-like contours over days or weeks.
Where Mormonts Are Observed
Mormonts are most commonly reported in northern regions with expansive frozen lakes, including parts of Canada, Scandinavia, and Russia. They typically appear during deep winter when temperatures remain well below freezing for extended periods. For more background on ice formations, see the National Snow and Ice Data Center at https://nsidc.org/
