Nunataks in Greenland

Nunataks (ice-free summits ) in East Greenland.

A Nunatak is an exposed peak, not covered with ice or snow, in an ice field or glacier. Nunataks are reference points in glaciers or ice caps.
As the ice cap recedes, these rock formations are more frequently visible. They are more typical of the northeast coast.

Gunnbjørn Fjeld is a nunatak.

Gunnbjørn Fjeld, peaking at 3733 m, is Greenland's highest mountain: on the east coast, south of Ittoqqortoormiit (Scoresbysund) - a rocky peak protruding through glacial ice.
Location 68° 55′ N 29° 54′ W

Into 2010 with M101

Big, beautiful spiral galaxy M101 is one of the last entries in Charles Messier's famous catalog. About 170,000 light-years across, this galaxy is huge, almost twice the size of our own Milky Way Galaxy.

M101 lies within the boundaries of the northern constellation Ursa Major, about 25 million light-years away.

NASA

Santa Claus's green path?

Northern lights in Alaska's long night, over Chugach mountains, near to Anchorage. The ionized particles are green coloured because they are mainly composed of oxygen; anyhow, a typical postcard of the season.

Alaska Stock/Sunset

Best wishes for Christmas and New Year

The adventure here is paused, but will soon restart. Until then, all the best for the holiday season and for 2010.

Really cold: Niagara Ice Falls

The last time Niagara Falls froze: March 1848.

Water flow was interrupted by accumulation of small icebergs in the upper section of the river; both falls froze quickly then.

In the lower section, an "ice bridge" linked both banks for miles; locals and tourists invaded this ice cap , taking photos, toboganning, selling drinks.

In fact, the tremendous flow of water remained under the ice cap, so this could break at any time and cause disaster.