Ice Surprise
Category: Nature...
Posted Sunday, January 28, 2007 at 08:54 PM [GMT-6]

My wife lured me into the backyard this morning with an irresistible "you need to come see this." "This" turned out to be what happens when you combine a hose with a slow drip and frigid overnight temps.

Photo - Ice Formation

OK, so it's not impressive in a blow-your-socks-off fashion, but it did cause me to wonder just how something like that happens. I've certainly never seen the formation of both a stalactite and a stalagmite in our backyard...or anyone else's, for that matter.

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Comments

Okay, that's just weird. It must be a veeerrry slow drip accompanied by some quick-freeze action. I've never seen that before.

Posted by: gwynne at January 28, 2007 11:04 PM

both a stalactite and a stalagmite

There is a geologic name for this, but I'll have to visit Carlsbad Caverns again to remember it.

Posted by: Wallace at January 28, 2007 11:50 PM

That's cool! (bad pun semi intentional!). We never see that sort of cold in the part of NZ I am in!

Posted by: Rachel at January 29, 2007 05:15 AM

I've never seen it either! Neat!

Posted by: Stephen Shores at January 29, 2007 08:38 AM

Did any other reader ever use the piano method books that had a song with these lyrics? The books were old even when I was a child.

Stalactites, stalagmites
Are formed in caves underneath the ground.
Stalactites, stalagmites.
One's up and the other is down.

I know it doesn't have anything to do with this cool photo but it's what came to my mind.

Posted by: Phyllis at January 29, 2007 08:43 PM

I always used this to remember which is which: "stalactites point down, because they hang on TIGHT."

Posted by: Eric at January 29, 2007 09:04 PM

that is so so so so so so so cool. if i was in dallas, i will be out in my garden right now trying to recreate your photo.

Posted by: mis_nomer at January 29, 2007 10:00 PM
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