Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Cleveland’s frozen lighthouse

In December last year, freezing winds turned Cleveland’s West Pierhead lighthouse into a giant ice sculpture.  The wind drove waves against the lighthouse, covering it in spray which was then frozen in the intense cold.


Image from Albino ©'s Flickr stream.


Image from Albino ©'s Flickr stream.


Image from Albino ©'s Flickr stream.

Imagine a tower frozen like this as the result of some magic or magical creatures.  Was someone casting a great spell that had the unexpected side-effect of freezing the tower (perhaps with them in it)?  Was it frozen from outside to seal something within?

How might you safely enter such a place?  Are those icicles waiting like spears to fall on people?  Is it also frozen within the building, with treacherous icy floors?  Has the freezing caused the stone itself to become brittle, so that removing the ice too quickly (with intense heat or smashing it off) makes the structure even more fragile?

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