Tykky is the Finnish name for a formation of snow and ice that form layers on the trees. It is caused by crystallisation of moisture in layer after layer of superimposed ice. The temperature has to be lower than -20° C for the crystallisation to start, but then the process continues all through the winter months.
These layers can be up to 30 to 50 cm thick and the trees become so heavy that they bend forming all kinds of beautiful sculptures. We walked through an army of ice angels and sea monsters and all kinds of imagined animal scuptures created by the tykky.
The tykky is especially noticeable on hills, where the prevailing wind will blow over the hills and when the air rises, it cools down and the ice condenses on the trees.
This first day of seeing it, it was cloudy and therefore not so spectacular. But we went on an expedition another day in stunning sunshine (but very cold) and I will publish these photos in two later posts soon to come.
