"The so-called ice road connecting the islands of Saaremaa and Hiiumaa, located in western Estonia between the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga, was officially opened on Sunday with a line of cars waiting to use it that afternoon. Authorities decided to open the ice road after local residents spontaneously began driving across the frozen sea, exposing themselves to serious risks."
"While opening the ice road came out of necessity, Hergo Tasuja, the mayor of Hiiumaa, said it was also part of our culture. For generations and generations, local people who live here, especially those who live near the sea, swim and use boats in the summertime, Tasuja said. And in winter, it's in their blood to go to the sea and step out on the ice."
Extremely low winter temperatures froze the sea between Saaremaa and Hiiumaa, allowing a 20km ice road to be opened for vehicles. Ferry services struggled amid weeks of temperatures around -10C, disrupting connections used for shopping, school runs and links to the mainland. Local residents had begun driving across the frozen sea, creating serious safety risks. The ice road is a marked corridor where specialists verify sufficient thickness and smooth out ridges and cracks. Workers measure ice thickness regularly to ensure a minimum safe depth before permitting vehicle traffic.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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