Eesti's ice roads (jää/teed) were in the international spotlight recently, when the popular British television show "Top Gear" took the Opel Ampera plug-in hybrid for a spin over the Vormsi island ice road. www.topgear.com/uk/photos/Driv...
The other three ice roads (there are 6 in total), which are not currently officially open are Rohuküla – Heltermaa, from the mainland to Hiiumaa island (26,5 km), Tärkmaa – Triigi, between Saaremaa and Hiiumaa islands (18 km) and Virtsu – Kuivastu, from the mainland to Muhu island (9 km). The ice must be uniformly at least 22 cm thick to allow an ice road to be officially opened and maintained by the Maantee/amet (Roads Administration). "Road signs" include sprigs of juniper and pine dotted along the route to serve as markers in conditions of poorer visibility. No such problems as of late. Instead, an interesting tug of war (vägi/kaika/vedamine) has been going on off Estonia's coastlines for the past month: blazing sun by day and extremely cold temperatures by night.
Continue reading in the April 5 print edition...
