Lao-Kihnu ice road

Lao-Kihnu is a scenic ice road in Estonia

Ice road between Lao and Kihnu (between the mainland and Kihnu), with a total length of 13 km, situated in southwestern Estonia. The freezing of the seas between the Estonian mainland and the islands has had historical significance, as during the middle ages these occurrences have been used by armies to invade the islands as they could simply walk across the sea.

Lao is a village in Tõstamaa Parish, Pärnu County, in southwestern Estonia. It's located on the top of the Tõstamaa peninsula, on the coast of the Gulf of Riga and Kihnu is an island in the Baltic Sea. With an area of 16,4 km² it is the largest island in the Gulf of Riga and the seventh largest island of Estonia. The closest point on the mainland, the cape of Lao on Tõstamaa Peninsula, is located at a distance of 10.2 km from Kihnu, while the nearest inhabited area, namely Manija Island, is located at a distance of 7.5 km.

The limitations for ice road traffic include:

-Weight limit depending on conditions, mostly 2 t (2.0 long tons; 2.2 short tons) to 2.5 t (2.5 long tons; 2.8 short tons)
-Vehicles travelling in the same direction must be at least 250 m (820 ft) apart.
-Recommended travelling speeds are under 25 km/h (16 mph) or between 40–70 km/h (25–43 mph). It is advised to avoid the range of 25 and 40 km/h (16 and 25 mph) due to danger of creating resonance in the ice layer (i.e. vehicle speed and water wave speed being the same or nearly, resulting in a large wave under the ice that breaks the ice).
-Seat belts must not be fastened due to danger of drowning if the ice breaks.
-The vehicle must not be stopped.
-Vehicles are allowed to enter the ice road in three minute intervals.
-Ice roads may only be used in daylight.

Pic: http://australiaforeveryone.com.au/trips/dest-parnu.html

 

 

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