|
Album Images
|
| The Ophir Bridge |
 |
| The township of Ophir is nearby, well known for its cold winter temperatures. |
|
| White folds of the central high country |
 |
| Frozen high country in Central Otago, very cold and often very dry |
|
| The Hoar Frost |
 |
| Typical of a hoar frost only the vegetation is covered in ice crystals and the ground below is cold but dry. |
|
| A solitary Willow Tree |
 |
| The whiteness under the tree is not snow but ice fallen from the tree. |
|
| A group of willow trees |
 |
| As we move closer to the coldest area, the trees become whiter. Behind can be seen the ice cold mist that causes the hoar frost. |
|
| Another solitary willow tree |
 |
| In the hardest hit area the temperature beneath this tree will be about -18 degrees centigrade, the same as a good home freezer. |
|
| Blue Lake St Bathans |
 |
| These hardy reeds are held in the frozen waters of the St Bathans Blue Lake. |
|
| A frozen frame |
 |
| A frozen view through the frozen frame of a deer fence. |
|
| Fruitlands District |
 |
| This area is called Fruitlands. It has many old and historic buildings, relics of the gold rush days in the 1860's |
|
| A large old pine tree |
 |
| In this view the moisture laden super cold wind comes from the right to the left, hence the ice build up is on the windward or right side of the tree. |
|
| A line of poplars trees |
 |
| A typical fence line of poplar trees. |
|
| An old sod cottage |
 |
| This old sod cottage was still lived in until recently. Probably over a 100 years old |
|
| A frozen window frame |
 |
| Beautiful ice formation around a broken cottage window. Notice the frozen cobweb in the top right of the window. |
|
| No place to live |
 |
| Another frozen cottage. If you think thats bad, check the next photo. |
|
| The Toilet |
 |
| Out back of the cottage, a very cold seat for a very tough butt. |
|
| Yet another willow tree |
 |
| This tree is holding up under the huge weight of ice. |
|
| Broken and Frozen |
 |
| A close up of a frozen broken window gives an idea of the temperature |
|
| A back road |
 |
| Almost unreal, a road behind Butchers Dam |
|
| Road marker |
 |
| One of many |
|
| Fire alert |
 |
| Someone wasn't doing their job |
|
| The Thyme Plant |
 |
| These plants had a very strong fragrance even in such cold temperatures |
|
| Mitchells Cottage |
 |
| On a hill above Fruitlands stands this historic cottage. A good example of the stone work of the gold mining era |
|
| Mitchells Cottage |
 |
| Another view of this lovely cottage |
|
| The Toilet |
 |
| Going to the toilet doesn't bare thinking about on a day like this |
|
| Fruitlands Valley |
 |
| A view of the Fruitlands Valley |
|
| Butchers Dam |
 |
| This last view of the area is Butchers Dam. 5km from here in Alexandra there was no ice |
| |