Ice, frost glisten on Fansipan

By Tran Linh, Quang Thien, Ngoc Thanh   December 25, 2023 | 11:47 pm PT
As temperatures fall to minus 3 degrees Celsius, the peak of Fansipan, 3,143 m above sea level, has been covered with ice and frost.
Ice, frost glisten on Fansipan

Ice began to form starting around 8 p.m. on Monday, at a height of 2,900 m from sea level on Vietnam's highest peak Fansipan of Lao Cai's Sa Pa. The ice started out thin, covering the wooden beams and floors on the peak.

Ice, frost glisten on Fansipan

At Thuong Pagoda, situated on the way towards the peak of Fansipan, water vapors and mist were frozen in the cold, creating ice and frost.

Ice, frost glisten on Fansipan

At night and in the early morning, temperatures outside fell to minus 3 degrees Celsius.

Certain northern and central Vietnam regions have been going through 10 days of a cold snap. Hanoi's temperatures have fallen to seven degrees at the lowest, while Sa Pa typically saw temperatures at 2-5 degrees.

Ice, frost glisten on Fansipan

Temperatures are expected to drop by 0.6 degrees for every 100 m going upward. It means that if Sa Pa's temperatures are at 2-5 degrees, Fansipan would record subzero temperatures, a condition for ice to form.

Ice, frost glisten on Fansipan

Ice and frost cover figures of snowmen.

This winter, ice first made its appearance on Fansipan on Nov. 20.

Ice, frost glisten on Fansipan

The higher one goes up, the thicker the ice layers will be, especially in areas with little winds.

"This time, the ice layers are the thickest and most long-lasting. After the ice melts, Fansipan would see beautiful seas of clouds," a representative of the Fansipan tourism area management committee said.

Ice, frost glisten on Fansipan

At a giant Buddha statue site, located 2,900 m above sea level and 200 m from the peak, the ice layers are thinner.

Ice, frost glisten on Fansipan

Ice and frost cover plant life. If the layers of ice last for too long, the plants may wither and die.

Ice, frost glisten on Fansipan

At 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, temperatures rose to around -1 degrees, and the ice slowly began to melt.

Ice, frost glisten on Fansipan

In the coming days, temperatures of Fansipan are expected to remain subzero at night, and frost can still appear. Several tourists have come to the area to take pictures of the seas of ice and clouds.

Ice forms on the peaks of Fansipan on Dec. 26, 2023.

 
 
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