Scroll down to see more
RIA Novosti
There is a common stereotype among foreigners that Russia is a very cold country, where everything is covered in ice and snow, and in winter you have to wear special felt boots known as valenki to avoid frostbitten feet.
RIA Novosti
In Moscow, however, your feet are more likely to sink in slush than in snow, and catching a glimpse of a true winter fairytale is a challenge even for locals, to say nothing of tourists.
RIA Novosti
Sculpting ice presents a number of difficulties due to the variability and volatility of the material. Ice may be sculpted in a wide range of temperatures and the characteristics of the ice will change according to its temperature as well as the surrounding temperatures.
RIA Novosti
Sculptures are generally carved from blocks of ice and these blocks must be carefully selected to be suitable for the sculptor's purposes and should be free of undesired impurities. Typically, ideal carving ice is made from pure, clean water.
RIA Novosti
The temperature of the environment affects how quickly the piece must be completed to avoid the effects of melting; if the sculpting does not take place in a cold environment, then the sculptor must work quickly to finish his piece.
RIA Novosti
Some sculptures can be completed in as little as ten minutes if the carver is using power tools such as chainsaws and specialty bits fitted to a die grinder.
ITAR-TASS
Ice sculptors also use razor-sharp chisels and hand saws that are specifically designed for cutting ice. As various technologies are adapted for use with ice carving, many sculptures are now created largely by machine.
ITAR-TASS
CNC machines and molding systems are now commonly used to create ice sculptures and complicated logos from ice.
ITAR-TASS
Color effects are also possible by a number of techniques, including the addition of colored gels or sand to the ice.
Lori
An annual competition is held at Moscow's Gorky Park, Perm Gorky Park, in Salekhard and other cities.
Lori
Several Russian ice sculptors have won events at the World Ice Art Championships, including Vladimir Zhikhartsev, Sergei Loginov, and Vitaliy Lednev.
Lori
Moscow’s Sokolniki Park features the world’s only year-round Ice Sculpture Museum, where the temperature is kept at -10 C (14 F) degrees. Enthusiasts of frost and ice art flock there, especially on weekends and holidays.
