Beijing, December 13 (Youth.cn) - Dreamy and mysterious, the rare light pillars shone in the sky of North Pole Village, Mohe City, Heilongjiang Province on December 12, 2024.
North Pole Village is the northernmost settlement of China. It is famous for its unique location and cold weather. When the night grows frighteningly dark and the temperature hovers near freezing,ice crystals form in the atmosphere. These plates of ice crystals orient themselves hexagonally as they drift down through the atmosphere. Their collective surfaces act like a giant mirror that reflects the light falling on them. The light being reflected will extend to a certain distance both above and below the light source. The denser and larger ice crystals, the more pronounced this effect becomes. Photo/VCG