On our favourite planet Earth, 71 percent if its surface is covered by water. The oceans contain 97 percent of the water and the remaining 3 percent is fresh water contained in lakes, rivers and ice. Two Hydrogen atoms and one Oxygen atom make up one molecule of water. The molecules are always moving because of potential energy. Water molecules have more energy in liquid form than in a solid state. Potential energy is reduced as the water cools down, the molecules start to move slower. When the water temperature reaches zero degrees Celsius, the molecules stick together to form a solid, which is ice. In the solid state molecules are still moving, we just can’t see it with our naked eyes. For water to turn into ice, we still need more than cold temperatures. A small impurity, from the impurity or particle will grow an ice crystal. Without impurities in water, say in pure water, water will not freeze, even when reaching minus 40 degrees Celsius. This process, called super cooling, occurs when pure water is contained in a smooth container.
But, I was not thinking about this when I came across this creek, which in metric would be called 64.37 Kilometer Creek. After seeing clear ice with nice bubble formations. I needed to decide if it was thick enough to hold my weight. After a few minutes of observing, I felt it was safe and decided slowly to move to the bubbles and get the picture.
