Fierce winter storms cause surreal ice formations in Michigan
AOL Travel
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SOUTH HAVEN, MI - JANUARY 8: The front light at St Joseph, on January 8, 2015, in South Haven, Michigan.ICE engulfs a red lighthouse as a fierce winter storm grips South Haven, Michigan. Sharp icicles and surreal formations can be seen hanging from the railings after strong waves crashed onto the piers. After each coating the water quickly freezes to ice and the pier is transformed into a slippery, white wonderland. Weather in the area dipped into the minus figures and froze over Lake Michigan in the beginning of January.PHOTOGRAPH BY Mike Kline / Barcroft MediaUK Office, London.T +44 845 370 2233W www.barcroftmedia.comUSA Office, New York City.T +1 212 796 2458W www.barcroftusa.comIndian Office, Delhi.T +91 11 4053 2429W www.barcroftindia.com
Fierce winter storms that have gripped South Haven, Michigan, have given one photographer the perfect opportunity to take some one-off photos.
Sharp icicles and surreal formations can be seen hanging from the railings after strong waves crashed onto the piers.
After each coating, the water quickly freezes to ice and the pier is transformed into a slippery, white wonderland.
Weather in the area dipped into the minus figures and froze over Lake Michigan in the beginning of January.
SOUTH HAVEN, MI - JANUARY 8: Ice flow between the North and South Pier, on January 8, 2015, in South Haven, Michigan.ICE engulfs a red lighthouse as a fierce winter storm grips South Haven, Michigan. Sharp icicles and surreal formations can be seen hanging from the railings after strong waves crashed onto the piers. After each coating the water quickly freezes to ice and the pier is transformed into a slippery, white wonderland. Weather in the area dipped into the minus figures and froze over Lake Michigan in the beginning of January.PHOTOGRAPH BY Mike Kline / Barcroft MediaUK Office, London.T +44 845 370 2233W www.barcroftmedia.comUSA Office, New York City.T +1 212 796 2458W www.barcroftusa.comIndian Office, Delhi.T +91 11 4053 2429W www.barcroftindia.com
Mike Kline, 45, from Canton, Michigan, ventured to the spot with his wife.
He said: "The piers, once covered in ice like this, are a treacherous hike. The ice is slippery and uneven.
SOUTH HAVEN, MI - JANUARY 8: St Joseph's Lighthouse above a frozen lake, in South Haven, Michigan.ICE engulfs a red lighthouse as a fierce winter storm grips South Haven, Michigan. Sharp icicles and surreal formations can be seen hanging from the railings after strong waves crashed onto the piers. After each coating the water quickly freezes to ice and the pier is transformed into a slippery, white wonderland. Weather in the area dipped into the minus figures and froze over Lake Michigan in the beginning of January.PHOTOGRAPH BY Mike Kline / Barcroft MediaUK Office, London.T +44 845 370 2233W www.barcroftmedia.comUSA Office, New York City.T +1 212 796 2458W www.barcroftusa.comIndian Office, Delhi.T +91 11 4053 2429W www.barcroftindia.com
"It is important to stay away from the edges, as there are no safety rails once you get away from shore.
"Whenever I visit the frozen lighthouses, I stay on the pier, and try to stay toward the centre as I make my way along.
SOUTH HAVEN, MI - JANUARY 13: Grand Haven South Pier Entrance Light is covered with ice and snow, on January 13, 2015, in South Haven, Michigan.ICE engulfs a red lighthouse as a fierce winter storm grips South Haven, Michigan. Sharp icicles and surreal formations can be seen hanging from the railings after strong waves crashed onto the piers. After each coating the water quickly freezes to ice and the pier is transformed into a slippery, white wonderland. Weather in the area dipped into the minus figures and froze over Lake Michigan in the beginning of January.PHOTOGRAPH BY Mike Kline / Barcroft MediaUK Office, London.T +44 845 370 2233W www.barcroftmedia.comUSA Office, New York City.T +1 212 796 2458W www.barcroftusa.comIndian Office, Delhi.T +91 11 4053 2429W www.barcroftindia.com
"Even when the lake looks frozen, I do not venture on the ice. There are many places where there are pockets in the ice that may be covered with a thin layer of ice, or just snow.
"If you fall through one of these into the water, death is a real possibility.
SOUTH HAVEN, MI - JANUARY 8: Ice hangs from the railings at St Joseph Lighthouse, on January 8, 2015, in South Haven, Michigan.ICE engulfs a red lighthouse as a fierce winter storm grips South Haven, Michigan. Sharp icicles and surreal formations can be seen hanging from the railings after strong waves crashed onto the piers. After each coating the water quickly freezes to ice and the pier is transformed into a slippery, white wonderland. Weather in the area dipped into the minus figures and froze over Lake Michigan in the beginning of January.PHOTOGRAPH BY Mike Kline / Barcroft MediaUK Office, London.T +44 845 370 2233W www.barcroftmedia.comUSA Office, New York City.T +1 212 796 2458W www.barcroftusa.comIndian Office, Delhi.T +91 11 4053 2429W www.barcroftindia.com
"But seeing the ice formations up close is simply amazing.
"The twists and turns of it, the patterns, the enormity of it are all just so impressive."
SOUTH HAVEN, MI - JANUARY 13: Thick ice along the pier at Grand Haven Lighthouse, on January 13, 2015, in South Haven, Michigan.ICE engulfs a red lighthouse as a fierce winter storm grips South Haven, Michigan. Sharp icicles and surreal formations can be seen hanging from the railings after strong waves crashed onto the piers. After each coating the water quickly freezes to ice and the pier is transformed into a slippery, white wonderland. Weather in the area dipped into the minus figures and froze over Lake Michigan in the beginning of January.PHOTOGRAPH BY Mike Kline / Barcroft MediaUK Office, London.T +44 845 370 2233W www.barcroftmedia.comUSA Office, New York City.T +1 212 796 2458W www.barcroftusa.comIndian Office, Delhi.T +91 11 4053 2429W www.barcroftindia.com
SOUTH HAVEN, MI - JANUARY 8: Mike Kline sitting on the iced pier, on January 8, 2015, in South Haven, Michigan.ICE engulfs a red lighthouse as a fierce winter storm grips South Haven, Michigan. Sharp icicles and surreal formations can be seen hanging from the railings after strong waves crashed onto the piers. After each coating the water quickly freezes to ice and the pier is transformed into a slippery, white wonderland. Weather in the area dipped into the minus figures and froze over Lake Michigan in the beginning of January.PHOTOGRAPH BY Mike Kline / Barcroft MediaUK Office, London.T +44 845 370 2233W www.barcroftmedia.comUSA Office, New York City.T +1 212 796 2458W www.barcroftusa.comIndian Office, Delhi.T +91 11 4053 2429W www.barcroftindia.com
SOUTH HAVEN, MI - JANUARY 8: Ice covers the South Pierhead Light, on January 8, 2015, in South Haven, Michigan.ICE engulfs a red lighthouse as a fierce winter storm grips South Haven, Michigan. Sharp icicles and surreal formations can be seen hanging from the railings after strong waves crashed onto the piers. After each coating the water quickly freezes to ice and the pier is transformed into a slippery, white wonderland. Weather in the area dipped into the minus figures and froze over Lake Michigan in the beginning of January.PHOTOGRAPH BY Mike Kline / Barcroft MediaUK Office, London.T +44 845 370 2233W www.barcroftmedia.comUSA Office, New York City.T +1 212 796 2458W www.barcroftusa.comIndian Office, Delhi.T +91 11 4053 2429W www.barcroftindia.com
SOUTH HAVEN, MI - UNDATED: A comparison shot of the Grand Haven South Pier Entrance Light taken on January 13 (left) and December 3, 2013, (right), in South Haven, Michigan.ICE engulfs a red lighthouse as a fierce winter storm grips South Haven, Michigan. Sharp icicles and surreal formations can be seen hanging from the railings after strong waves crashed onto the piers. After each coating the water quickly freezes to ice and the pier is transformed into a slippery, white wonderland. Weather in the area dipped into the minus figures and froze over Lake Michigan in the beginning of January.PHOTOGRAPH BY Mike Kline / Barcroft MediaUK Office, London.T +44 845 370 2233W www.barcroftmedia.comUSA Office, New York City.T +1 212 796 2458W www.barcroftusa.comIndian Office, Delhi.T +91 11 4053 2429W www.barcroftindia.com
SOUTH HAVEN, MI - JANUARY 8: St Joseph's Lighthouse and the ice-covered pier, on January 8, 2015, in South Haven, Michigan.ICE engulfs a red lighthouse as a fierce winter storm grips South Haven, Michigan. Sharp icicles and surreal formations can be seen hanging from the railings after strong waves crashed onto the piers. After each coating the water quickly freezes to ice and the pier is transformed into a slippery, white wonderland. Weather in the area dipped into the minus figures and froze over Lake Michigan in the beginning of January.PHOTOGRAPH BY Mike Kline / Barcroft MediaUK Office, London.T +44 845 370 2233W www.barcroftmedia.comUSA Office, New York City.T +1 212 796 2458W www.barcroftusa.comIndian Office, Delhi.T +91 11 4053 2429W www.barcroftindia.com
SOUTH HAVEN, MI - JANUARY 8: Ice build-up on the top of the front of the Grand Haven South Pier Entrance Light, on January 8, 2015, in South Haven, Michigan.ICE engulfs a red lighthouse as a fierce winter storm grips South Haven, Michigan. Sharp icicles and surreal formations can be seen hanging from the railings after strong waves crashed onto the piers. After each coating the water quickly freezes to ice and the pier is transformed into a slippery, white wonderland. Weather in the area dipped into the minus figures and froze over Lake Michigan in the beginning of January.PHOTOGRAPH BY Mike Kline / Barcroft MediaUK Office, London.T +44 845 370 2233W www.barcroftmedia.comUSA Office, New York City.T +1 212 796 2458W www.barcroftusa.comIndian Office, Delhi.T +91 11 4053 2429W www.barcroftindia.com
SOUTH HAVEN, MI - JANUARY 8: Ice frozen over the Grand Haven South Pier Entrance Light, on January 8, 2015, in South Haven, Michigan.ICE engulfs a red lighthouse as a fierce winter storm grips South Haven, Michigan. Sharp icicles and surreal formations can be seen hanging from the railings after strong waves crashed onto the piers. After each coating the water quickly freezes to ice and the pier is transformed into a slippery, white wonderland. Weather in the area dipped into the minus figures and froze over Lake Michigan in the beginning of January.PHOTOGRAPH BY Mike Kline / Barcroft MediaUK Office, London.T +44 845 370 2233W www.barcroftmedia.comUSA Office, New York City.T +1 212 796 2458W www.barcroftusa.comIndian Office, Delhi.T +91 11 4053 2429W www.barcroftindia.com
