Ephemeral, Cold, yet Fascinating Snow and Ice Sculptures

They are not famous and they won't last forever. It’s estimated that a single-block ice sculpture will last about 12 hours at a temperature of 10°C. Yet countless hours went into many of these amazing creations only to have them melt away.

It is said that in the 1600's fishermen in the northeastern Chinese province of Heilongjiang started sculpting lanterns from ice – freezing water inside buckets, removing the buckets and inserting candles. Today in Heilongjiang, the capital, Harbin, hosts the annual Harbin Ice and Snow Festival, where the delicately-crafted ice lanterns are a major highlight.

So let's share some pictures of these beautiful, ephemeral art works. Or just have the usual friendly chat, here, on The Dog House.

As usual, be gentle with yourself and others, and no matter how difficult it may be at times, keep on smiling.