Winter is here!
Today is the 1st day of the most fascinating time of the year. Whether you detest the windy weather or appreciate the chilly mornings, here are few interesting facts about winter.
· THE EARTH IS CLOSEST TO THE SUN DURING THE WINTER.
You might be shocked to hear that the winter months are when the Earth is closest to the Sun.
Earth's distance from the Sun is not what causes the seasons but it does affect the length of them. Contrary to certain popular beliefs, our planet's distance from the Sun has nothing to do with the seasonal reduction in temperature. Instead, the reason why winter arrives in the two hemispheres at various times of the year has much to do with the way the Earth's axis is tilting.
· HOW MUCH WATER IS THERE IN SNOW?
Depending on how the snow developed, the precise quantity of water it contains might vary considerably, but on average, every 12 cm of snow would provide 1 cm of water.
· REINDEER VISION
Some reindeer living above the Arctic Circle spend several weeks of the year completely in the dark. To adapt to this, a little patch of tissue beneath the retina changes colour from gold in the summer to blue in the winter. This allows the eyes of reindeer to recognize ultraviolet light and see in the dark.
· SNOW CAN BE OF DIFFERENT COLOURS
Most people believe that snow is white or grey after it gets dirty, but snow can be a variety of colours. Pink snow, known as watermelon snow, is found worldwide in mountains and polar regions and comes from freshwater green algae. The pink-red snow has a faintly fruity smell but is reported to have laxative effects if eaten.
· COLDEST COUNTRY ON EARTH
During the winter of 1974, Russia reached -71° Celsius in Siberia, making it the world’s coldest country. The top five are Canada, Mongolia, Finland, and Iceland.
