Once Groundhogs Day hits and we’re practically able to grasp spring in our fingertips, that’s right around the time some of us begin to really become fed up with winter. Sure, the sun is setting later and the days are getting longer, but they’re still too damn cold for our liking, and it takes a lot to convince us to leave the warmth of our apartments. One thing that is worth braving the cold for though are these glistening ice castles, and they’re currently erupting all over upstate NY!
If you don’t know what ice castles are it’s when volcanoes are formed from water and ice rather than rock and magma, and Evangola State Park isn’t the only place in New York where you can find them! They’re currently erupting all over Upstate NY, and one of the most popular frozen formations is in Letchworth State Park in Castile, NY. Right now, there’s a towering spectacle forming in the icy depths of winter.
According to news and media website NY Upstate, when temperatures plummet in Upstate New York is when the ice volcanoes rise. The towering volcanoes can grow up to 20 feet or more if freezing conditions are right, and some actually reached a whopping 50 feet back in 2015! Those that have visited Letchworth State Park this winter have reported that some are currently over 25 feet high currently and still growing!
And yes, they do actually erupt! The volcanoes use water from an uphill pond to spray into the air, which creates the illusion of an erupting volcano. If temperatures outside have reached single-digits, that spray water freezes as it cascades down, which gradually builds the icy formation.
Park officials ask visitors to stay off the ice formation and surrounding frozen pond water for their safety. The only way to access the volcanoes is through the Letchworth’s Castile gate at 6787 Denton Corners Road. Letchworth State Park writes that there are several parking areas nearby, but parking spaces can fill up quickly so be prepared to park and hike to the volcanoes.
Beyond Evangola and Letchworth State Parks, you can find more ice volcanoes along the frozen shores of Lakes Ontario, Michigan, and Superior.