Header photo by Roman Ska
This polar vortex and its impact on weather patterns in Maine = COLD… π₯Ά
According to this article:
The polar vortex is located in the stratosphere about 30 miles above the Earth. A sudden stratospheric warming broke the polar vortex on November 28.
At the same time, a large high pressure ridge over Alaska is driving Arctic air down into northern states including Maine.
Naturally, this got me thinking about some winter or snowy dragon photos from around the globe.
Here’s a suitably ice-worthy selection!
Finland / Viking Longboats
From what I’ve gathered online, I think this is at the Finnish border near Vyborg, Russia.
This reminds me of the third Viking ship drawing I was supposed to start on recently, as mentioned in Dragonsinn Monthly Recap β December 2025 οΉποΉ
READ MORE:
Drachenfels, KΓΆnigswinter / Germany
A snow-covered stone dragon at Drachenfels.
The Drachenfels (“Dragon’s Rock”) is a hill in the Siebengebirge uplands between KΓΆnigswinter and Bad Honnef in Germany.
The hill was mentioned in a poem by Lord Byron:
The castled crag of Drachenfels
Frowns oβer the wide and winding Rhine.
Whose breast of waters broadly swells
Between the banks which bear the vine. . .
ββLord Byron, Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage
Interesting travel info is available at Drachenfelsbahn.de/en/drachenfels.
READ MORE:
- German Dragons (contributed by Zar Antonov)
- Medieval Dragon Art β March 2021
Yellowknife / Canada (XXVIII Snow Carving Symposium, 2023)
OMG, I’m always amazed by snow sculptures.
This wyvern was created in 2023 in Yellowknife, Northwest Territory in Subarctic Canada.
Roger Wing (of West Philadelphia), Mark Thompson (of England) and Marin Murakoshi (of Japan/Boston) worked together to carve this mythical being of medieval England at The XXVIII Snow Carving Symposium.
READ MORE:
- Snow Sculpting in the Canadian North (Roger’s post with more Wyvern snow sculpture pics)
- Harbin Ice and Snow World (Roger takes part in the 34th annual ice sculpture competition)
- Dragon Sculpture and QnA with Marin Murakoshi (Dragonsinn post from last year, feat. Marin’s baby dragon stone sculpture!)
Ontario / Canada
I came across this photo via Reddit. Matt Morris is a community snow sculptor in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
He says:
“Creating the 8′ tall tower of snow was the key starting point. I shovelled all the snow off 3 of my neighbours sidewalksβthey are so generous in allowing me to do this. π It took about 1 hr to pound the non-packing snow into my form.”
His website has more details and videos on his snow art.
Portland / Maine
Just found this today, from my home state!
READ MORE:
Kyoto / Japan
Here’s a “menacing dragon statue covered in snow” at the ancient, sacred Kiyomizudera Temple in Kyoto, Japan.
Kiyomizudera (ζΈ ζ°΄ε―Ί, literally “Pure Water Temple”) is one of the most celebrated temples of Japan. It was founded in 780 on the site of the Otowa Waterfall. In 1994, the temple was added to the list of World Heritage Sites.
Visit the official website for more fascinating historical facts and stunning photography.
READ MORE:
Harbin / China
Here’s another jaw-dropping snow sculpture from 2024 (Chinese dragon year).
Harbin in northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province made good use of its abundant ice and snow resources to celebrate the Year of the Dragon. This article showcases some of the exquisite yet temporary works of art.
Harbin is one of the coldest cities in the world, where temperatures have gone as low as -37.7β (-35.86β) π§
The city is famous for its International Ice and Snow Festival, every January. Ice buildings can reach up to 50 metres!
READ MORE:
West Midlands, England / UK
This is the dragon fountain at Cauldon Park, frozen over.
Photographer Rich Scott said he was “stunned by how the shapes of the ice had formed on the mythical beasts.”
He’d seen the fountain freeze over in 2018, 2021, and 2025 (when this picture was taken).
READ MORE:
###
Each of these photos is a spark in the cold: a reminder of mythic embers beneath the ice.