Springlike winter weather brings thousands of Helsinki residents onto the ice

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The springlike winter weather enticed residents in the capital region to take some outdoor exercise on Sunday. The temperature was only a couple of degrees below zero and occasionally even the sun warmed the faces of these outdoor activists. The winter had finally come and thickened the ice of the sea off Helsinki to the point where people felt safe walking on it.
      Thousands of people were moving on the ice off Helsinki and Espoo - walking, skiing or skating - and heading for the many small islands owned by the cities of Helsinki and Espoo.
     
Looking down from a helicopter, one could see that the largest crowds on the ice were moving south of the island of Seurasaari, as well as off the Kaivopuisto Park, the district of Lauttasaari, and off Espoo.
      Some people were flying kites, while others were gliding along on by skates pulled by parachutes. Even bicycles and snowmobiles were seen.
      Small children were pulled in toboggans or pushed in prams. Quite a large number of the outdoor activists were dogs.
      Artist Sirkku Ala-Harja, who works on the island of Harakka, was skating between the ice sculptures and taking pictures of them with her mobile camera phone. Ala-Harja assumes that it will be safe enough to skate on the ice off Helsinki still for at least a couple of weeks, provided that one does not go too close to open water.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Climate change: more mild and rainy winters in store for Finland (22.2.2005)

Helsingin Sanomat