Just on time for the onset of winter, one of the season’s most breathtaking features is about to be unveiled-the famous Ice Hotels, located in northern climates where the environment can sustain such works of art.
Ice hotels are exactly what they sound like-structures for tourists where you can stay in a structure made of ice. Other than the supporting steel beams and mortar made of a material called snice, everything else in the building is made of blocks of ice.
Most Ice Hotels are built fresh each year, due to necessity. [cincopa AkHABz60qBJY]
SWEDEN
Between December and April, in the village of Jukkasjärvi, the world’s first ice hotel still stands for service. In 1989, Japanese ice artists visited the area and created ice sculptures. One night there were no rooms available in the town, so some of the visitors asked for permission to spend the night in the exhibition hall. They slept in sleeping bags on top of reindeer skin.
The entire hotel is made out of snow and ice blocks taken from the Torne River – even the glasses! Each spring, they harvest tons of ice from the Torne River and store it in a nearby production hall with room for over 10,000 tons of ice and 30,000 tons of snow. The ice is used for creating Icebar designs and ice glasses, for ice sculpting classes. The snow is used for building a strong structure for the building. About 1,000 tons of what is left is used in the construction of the next Ice Hotel.
CANADA
The Hôtel de Glace is celebrating it’s 12th year anniversary next year! If you decide to join the celebration, the hotel is on the shore Lac-Saint-Joseph, Quebec, just 30 minutes north of Quebec City. It operates from the first week in January to the last week in March. It was the first ever in the world to make a bed and everything else out of ice.
NORWAY
In Norway, the Kierkenes Snow Hotel is another option. A night in the snow hotel is combined with a special dinner prepared on an open fire, and the option of a sauna before or after your visit!
The Ice Lodge your second Norwegian option. It has a longer season than mostice hotels because of its altitude, which is 1,200 meters above sea level.
Yet another ice palace in Norway is available for the cold-loving adventurer. The Sorrisniva Igloo hotel has been rebuilt yearly since 2000. It is Europe’s northernmost ice hotel.
Besides the bedrooms, the hotel also contains an ice chapel, ice chandeliers,and an ice bar where drinks are served in glasses made of ice. The hotel boasts a changing theme every year.
ROMANIA
In 2006, the first ice hotel in Eastern Europe was built in Romania, deep in the mountains. Due to its altitude and remote location, it is only accessible via cable car in the winter. The hotel is completed in December, and is open until it melts in late April or early May.
Bedding and furs are all provided, with bathroom facilities nearby. There are also two chalets within walking distance, which also provide accommodation. The Bâlea Lake Ice Hotel is Romanian owned.
FINLAND
Snow Village is located in the Western Part of Finnish Lapland.
The annual construction of the Snow Village begins when the temperature drops to about (14 °F) which is usually at the end of October, beginning of November.
Snow Village is built entirely of snow and ice, covering approximately an area of 220,000 square feet. The architectural design and the decor varies from year to year.
Because of the good insulating qualities of snow, the indoor temperature of Snow Village remains always between 28 and 23 degrees farenheit, regardless of the outdoor temperature.
Besides just the hotel structure itself, there are several fun attractions that the snow and ice offer! Ice sculpture classes, wilderness treks, skiing, and even marriage services are available!
Take winter by storm and book a trek to an Ice Hotel this season!
Web Credits-
www.icehotel.com
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_hotel
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Check out this video, made in part with Times Media, that goes into some of the details of making an ice hotel in Sweden.