Despite the fact that the ice on the Northern Dvina River in the Arkhangelsk region practically did not melt and remained strong due to the cold weather, the ice drift ended ahead of schedule, but piles of ice still remain on the banks.
“Ice drift on the Northern Dvina ended, complete clearing occurred on May 4, which is several days earlier than the long-term average values. Piles of ice remain on the banks. The uniqueness of this year is that the opening of the Northern Dvina occurred due to the fact that the river was ready and the ice cover was not destroyed. The ice remained hard and durable, so large piles of ice [emerged],” TASS quoted Natalya Belikhina, head of the department of river and sea hydrological forecasts of Sevhydromet, as saying.
Usually the ice drift approaches Arkhangelsk on May 3, the Northern Dvina is completely cleared of ice on May 5-6. This year ice drift approached Arkhangelsk on April 27. Thanks to this, on May 4, motor ships went out on all municipal lines.
Theodor Lisovoy, Editor in Chief of the European bureau, Rough&Polished
