LAST LOOK

Where We Live

“Winter, a lingering season, is a time to gather golden moments, embark upon a sentimental journey, and enjoy every idle hour.” —John Boswell

DID YOU SNOW?

5 Fun Facts

1

The words “sled,” “sledge,” “slide,” and “sleigh” are all related and come from the ancient ProtoIndo-European root sleidh-, meaning “to slip.”

2

Nivisphobia is the fear of avalanches. Fear of snow is chionophobia and pagophobia is the fear of ice or frost.

3

The biggest hailstone ever recorded fell during the summer of 2010 onto the town of Vivian, South Dakota; it measured eight inches wide and weighed almost 2.2 pounds.

4

In ancient Greece, it was thought that drinking water from melted snow would give you "goiters," a thyroid disorder that causes your neck to swell. Although they didn't know why, they weren't too far off the mark—one of the causes of goiters is lack of iodine and, as we know, snow water—unlike groundwater— doesn't contain any minerals, including iodine.

5

Traditional Inuit igloo builders would craft different shelters depending on their purpose. One man, working alone, could throw up a snow dome designed to be an overnight shelter in around an hour. Larger, more permanent igloos—created for family living—could take two days.

Source: The Little Book of Snow by Sally Coulthard

What’s Coming Next Month?

Head East! Explore Our Region’s Asian Food Scene

Happily Ever After: Spotlight on Local Couples

Take It Away: Top Drive-Throughs

Subject to change

We Want to See Your Snaps!

Send your favorite seasonal photo of the region—a local park, hiking or biking trail, body of water, etc.—to info@stylemg.com. Our favorite pics will appear in an upcoming issue.