Icefalls on the banks of the Amata River

Going on a hike on the exciting Amata Geological Trail along the Amata River in winter or early spring, you will see both filigree and monumental icefalls up to 10 m in height. The largest icefalls can usually be seen by Vizuļu Rock and Dzilnas Rock.

The formation process of icefalls, which beings with the arrival of frost, is very interesting. As the springs trickle over the cliffs and rocks, they freeze icicle upon icicle.

Icicles quickly grow in size and change in appearance. They tend to freeze together, creating larger, sometimes even gigantic, icicles. As the time passes, they form ice blocks and quite often even walls of ice.

Icefalls differ from one another not only by shape, but also by colour, which depends on the composition of water — most are bright white, crystal clear or greyish, while some are yellowish, light brown or even bright pink. 

As the spring approaches, in some places they are washed away by strong flood currents, while elsewhere, where there is less water and the icefall cannot support its own weight anymore, they tumble down, crashing with a loud noise.