Ice Roads

Posted on by

Ice road near Salekhard, Russia.

Ice road near Salekhard, Russia.

Engineering is all about meeting the needs of society using the resources that are available. I recently heard of one very interesting example of a transportation system that was designed for a society with very specific resources and challenges – Siberian “ice roads.”

My father recently visited Salekhard, a town near the Arctic Circle in Siberia. Salekhard’s transportation system faces unique challenges due to its remoteness and its long, cold winters. Although roads made of typical paving materials are used within the town itself, it is not feasible to construct and maintain roads to the many remote villages that surround it. The solution: “зимники,” (pronounced “ZEEM-neek”) or “ice roads.”

Siberian “ice roads” are simply paths cutting through the snow and ice of the Siberian tundra that allow cars and trucks to drive through an area that would otherwise be impassible by automobiles. Although they are somewhat (but only slightly) maintained, these “roads” are by no means a walk in the park. They are extremely rough on a vehicle’s suspension, and the route is very poorly defined. In fact, it is advised that drivers only travel on an ice road at night, when their vehicle’s headlights cast shadows over the uneven road surface, helping them to stay on the actual road and not drift off on to the unmaintained tundra that surrounds it. Unfortunately, if a vehicle does drift off the road or break down in another way, the traveler(s) must wait in the subzero temperatures until a vehicle capable of assisting them happens to pass by. Due to remoteness of the area, this could be on the order of several hours.

“Ice roads” are not unique to Siberia. Many northern countries, including Canada, Estonia, the Scandinavian countries, and even the US, have their own ice roads. However, the terminology most often used by English speakers differs slightly from that used by Russians. While the “ice roads” of Siberia do include some river crossings, such as the road crossing the Ob River near Salekhard, they are primarily used to cross land (tundra). In common English usage, the term “winter road” is used to describe this type of path, while “ice road” specifically refers to a road built on a body of water that is frozen-over, such as a lake or river.

This water-crossing type of ice road owes its development largely to Canada’s Northwest Territories, where the landscape is dotted with many lakes of a variety of sizes. In the 1930’s, thriving mining operations in this remote northern region led truckers to create roads across frozen lakes to shorten the transport time of goods to and from these mining towns. This type of road soon gained traction (despite the ice) both in northern Canada and other arctic and subarctic regions of the world.

Although ice roads over water are inherently dangerous, they are fairly well understood and maintained, making them reasonably safe for the experienced ice road truck driver. Various rules designed to prevent road failure are in place on such routes. While the specifics of these rules differ from place to place, they share many common features. For example, on many roads, driving is only allowed during that day. Perhaps the most important of these rules limit the speed at which truckers may drive. Although one might that think these speed limits are in place to ensure proper traction between trucks’ tires and road-ice, they are actually intended to prevent the buildup of a pressure wave in the lake water that could damage the road.

One of the most famous ice roads, the “Road of Life” to Leningrad, provided that city a vital link to unoccupied Russian territory during the Siege of Leningrad by Nazi forces during WWII. This road across Lake Ladoga was used to transport food, medicine, and munitions into the city, and women, children, and the elderly out of it. This makeshift supply route served as the city’s lifeblood for the several year siege, being reconstructed by the determined Soviets each winter. Eventually, even rail-road tracks were laid on the ice in order to allow trains to cross the frozen lake.

The very existence of ice rods can teach the transportation engineer several very important lessons. Ice roads demonstrate the necessity of transportation for even the most inaccessible of locations. They also show mankind’s determination and willingness to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles in order to obtain this vital asset. Ice roads should challenge transportation engineers to produce better solutions by demonstrating that even the most challenging transportation problems can be overcome with determination and ingenuity.

———————————————————————————————————————

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjTIhsExWUw

http://www.theadventurists.com/the-ice-run-team-handbook/the-ice-roads

http://askyakutia.com/2012/12/bicycling-in-the-cold-winter-weather-ice-road-lena-river-yakutsk-siberia-russia-photos/

http://www.mining.com/ice-roads-in-russia-and-canada-hit-by-mild-weather-67712/

http://www.businessinsider.com/soldier-turned-ice-road-trucker-dies-while-pursuing-his-dream-2012-12

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_road

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_road

http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/engineering/infrastructure/4212314

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/9450807.stm

http://www.thedieselgypsy.com/Ice%20Roads-3B-Denison.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salekhard

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_of_Life

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBIqNk2P6Uk

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/siege_of_leningrad.htm

http://englishrussia.com/2011/11/29/lake-ladoga-and-the-road-of-life/

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/540/multiple=1&unique_number=635

http://dangerousroads.org/russia/2216-road-of-life.html

http://alexanderclark.squarespace.com/world-war-ii/2011/12/16/leningrads-road-of-life-1941.html

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/35555296

http://www.junebarbarossa.com/blog/530538-lake-ladoga-road-of-life/

http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/leningrad.htm

http://www.saint-petersburg.com/history/siege.asp

http://histours.ru/tour.html

3,131 thoughts on “Ice Roads”

    • The Picnic group pleased fans on April 12 with the “cosmic memories” of its leader Edmund Shklyarsky.

      “I remember this day now: I didn’t go to school yet, I didn’t go outside (as usual I caught a cold), but I was constantly listening to something transmitting a radio stream. And suddenly: a man in space! Having learned what weightlessness is, there was nothing left but to imagine and portray it in the room… In a word: happy cosmonautics Holiday!”, – emphasized Edmund Mechislavovich.
      And the group “Pilot” published today a clip for the song “Our Cosmos” performed by Ilya Knabengoff and Khitryushek.

      Ilya Knabengof previously told NSN that since childhood he wanted to be a pilot and even flew an airplane and helicopter.

      “I flew a helicopter, and as a pilot, too. I once studied to pilot a Cessna, I wanted to get a pilot’s license. I have also flown at the controls of an airplane, since childhood I dreamed of being a pilot and wanted to somehow make up for this dream. The name of the band is also indirectly related to this,” Ilya noted.
      On Wednesday, Chaif congratulated fans on two holidays at once, finding out that April 12 is also Rock and Roll Day.

      “Aria” also made a double congratulation – on Cosmonautics Day and the 22nd anniversary of the download music album “Chimera”. At the same time, the metalheads asked the fans the question: what song from “Chimera” still takes them into space?

      Well, the “Master” remembered today that the poet Victoria Kapitonova used to work as a translator at the legendary rocket and space plant. Khrunicheva.

      Reply ↓

  3. Sektörünüz ne olursa olsun önceliğiniz dijitale önem vermek olmalıdır. Çünkü artık pek çok insan hizmetini alırken dijital dünyayı tercih ediyor. Dijital dünyadan hizmet almanın en önemli nedeni ise daha fazla hizmet çeşitliliğine sahip olunması ve bunu inceleyebiliyor olmasıdır.
    Site : https://www.sfs.com.tr/

    Reply ↓

  11. Spor sitesine üyelik işlemi ücretsiz ve çok kolay olmakla birlikte birçok bahis sitesi de holgeldin bonusu sağlamaktadır. Hoşgeldin bonusu Bet365 tarafından sağlanan hizmetlerden bir tanesidir. Oyun sitesine üyeliğini ilk kez yaptıran herkes bu bonusu almaya hak kazanabilir.
    Site : https://bet365giris.net/

    Reply ↓

  12. AL Fares International Tentsالفارس العالمية للخيام –
    We offer a variety of services including components manufacturing, assembling and designing a fancy furniture and interior fit out. We provide a wonderful design of tents which suit all occasions and a various types of car parking shades in different shapes and you can enjoy our high-quality prefabricated buildings that serve many purposes and consider a perfect alternative to regular construction. And our fine furniture and interior fit-out will add a charming touch to your occasions,
    -our top services:
    1- wedding tents
    2- Majlis tent
    3- car parking shades
    4-prefabricated buildings
    5-Funeral tents
    6-car parking shades suppliers
    7 – tents for sale

    -Wedding tents:
    Whether planning a memorable wedding for limited guests or organising an extravagant celebration with hundreds of guests, Al Fares’ Wedding marquees has got you covered.

    -Majlis tents:
    Majlis halls or Arabian Marquees are elite temporary structures pertaining specifically to countries located in the Gulf.

    -car parking shades:
    Al Fares provides high quality car parking shades and sails across the Middle East.

    -prefabricated building:
    We help create these prefab buildings that serve all the purposes of traditional buildings and offer added benefits too

    -funeral tents:
    We are providing luxury and formal designs of condolence tents with large spaces to fit more people .

    AL Fares International Tentsالفارس العالمية للخيام –
    نحن نقدم العديد من الخدمات تتضمن تصنيع الأجزاء و تركيبها و إنشاء التصاميم الداخلية و المفروشات الفاخرة نحن نقدم تصاميم رائعة للخيم تناسب جميع المناسبات, كما نوفر تصاميم عديدة من أغطية السيارات بأشكال مختلفة لتؤمن الحماية للمركبات, و تستطيع أن تستمتع بأبنيتنا المسبقة الصنع التي تخدم العديد من الأغراض و تعد البديل المثالي للإنشاءات العادية و تكتمل خدماتنا عالية الجودة بتصاميم داخلية و مفروشات راقية تضيف لمسة من السحر و الجمال على مناسباتكم
    أفضل خدماتنا
    خيم الزفاف
    خيم المجالس
    مظلات مواقف السيارات
    المباني الجاهزة
    خيم العزاء

    خيم الزفاف
    أذا كنت تخطط لحفل زفاف لا يُنسى سواء كان لعدد محدود من الضيوف أو غير محدود أو تسعى لتنظيم احتفالاً فخماً يضم مئات الضيوف .ستساعدك التصميم الفرديه للهياكل المعدنيه والخيم الخاصه بمناسبات الزواج وغيره والتي تنفرد بها الفارس العالميه من خلال تصميم مبتكره وأفكار خلاقه وحديثة تجعل من الفارس الأواى في إتمام هذه المهمه

    المجالس
    قاعات المجلس أوالخيم العربية :هي هياكل مؤقتة فخمة غالباً ما ترتبط بدول الخليج. و تمتاز خيم المجلس بقيمة تراثية غنية حيث أنها واحدة من أهم الرموز التي تمثل النسيج الاجتماعي للثقافة العربية.

    مظلات مواقف السيارات
    توفر شركة الفارس مظلات مواقف سيارات عالية الجودة في جميع أنحاء الشرق الأوسط.

    المباني الجاهزة
    <التصنيع المسبق: هو تجميع المباني ومكوناتها في مكان آخر غير موقع البناء ، وهناك طلب كبير على المباني الجاهزة ذات الهياكل المتينة والوزن الخفيف والاقتصادية والتي يمكن إعادة تحديد موقعها وتوفر في استهلاك للطاقة.

    حيم العزاء
    شركة الفارس العالمية تنفرد دائما بتصاميم خيم فاخرة تحتضن مجالسكم و أوقاتكم المختلفة و ستحرص دوما على مشاركتكم من خلال تقديم خيم لمناسبات العزاء بتصاميم فخمة و رسمية

    Reply ↓

  19. Lotusbet TV bu konuda oyuncuları her zaman bilgilendirmiş ve merak ettikleri soruların yanıtlarını vermeye çalışmıştır. Site içerisinde örneğin en çok deneme bonusu veren siteler hangileri bunu ilk girdiğiniz de görebilirsiniz. Oyuna başlamadan böyle bir bilgi sahibi olmakta henüz başlangıçta size artı bir avantaj sağlayacaktır.
    Site : https://lotusbet.club/

    Reply ↓

  28. We have the perfect spa day for you if you want a relaxing spa experience in a tranquil environment with dimly lit aromatherapy candles and soothing music. We offer special treatments for those who are going to the city to relieve leg fatigue and to help you get back on your feet.

    Reply ↓

  29. [url=http://buyfildena.shop/]fildena 150 online[/url] [url=http://buyaugmentin.shop/]augmentin tablet price[/url] [url=http://citalopram.cfd/]celexa best price[/url] [url=http://buymetformin.monster/]price of metformin in canada[/url] [url=http://lisinopril2022.com/]lisinopril 5mg tablets[/url]

    Reply ↓

  32. [url=http://tadacip.golf/]tadacip 10 mg[/url] [url=http://propeciatabs.com/]best price propecia 5mg no prescription[/url] [url=http://buylexapro.shop/]lexapro 40[/url] [url=http://diclofenac.store/]voltaren price canada[/url] [url=http://buyprozac.shop/]prozac drugstore[/url] [url=http://toradol.shop/]toradol 70 mg tablet[/url]

    Reply ↓

  33. Kime ne zaman işinizin düşeceğini bilemezsiniz. Bu nedenle işinizin düşeceği zamanları hesap etmeniz çok önemlidir. Hatta internette sizin yerinize bunu düşünmüş olan pek çok internet sitesi vardır. Bu internet sitelerinden alacağınız hizmetle birlikte işlerinizi hızlı bir şekilde çözebilirsiniz. Artık insanlar işlerini internetten çözmeye çalışırken aynı zamanda güvenebilecekleri bir platform arıyorlar. Benim burada bahsedeceğim internet sitesi ise İşimdüştü.com adresidir.
    Web adresi : https://isimdustu.com/

    Reply ↓

  34. Günümüzde her şey artık dijital dünya üzerinden ilerliyor. İnsanlar satın alacakları bir ürün olsun ya da hizmet olsun interneti kullanarak işlerini çözmeye çalışıyorlar. Elbette internet üzerinden yapılan ya da yaptırılan işlerin zaman ve maliyet açısından önemi çok büyük. Çünkü birçok gideri devre dışında bıraktığından kurumsal ya da bireysel olarak her şeyi daha uygun ve daha kaliteli hale dönüştürebiliyorsunuz.
    Kaynak: https://isimdustu.com/

    Reply ↓

  35. [url=https://femaleviagra.shop/]pharmacy price comparison viagra[/url] [url=https://buylexapro.shop/]how much is lexapro 10mg[/url] [url=https://vermox365.com/]buy vermox[/url]

    Reply ↓

  36. Kaliteli ve profesyonel bir bahis sayfasında hepsini bir arada bulabilirsiniz. Bu kadar özellik bir sayfada olur diye merak ediyorsanız fazlası bile olmaktadır. Günümüzdeki bahis sayfaları çok gelişmiştir ve en son teknoloji kullanılmaktadır.
    Kaynak : https://lotusbonus2.com/

    Reply ↓

  37. شرکت آبگونه پالایش گستر نوین ارائه دهنده انواع دستگاه تصفیه آب خانگی ، نیمه صنعتی و پیش تصفیه در کشور و نمایندگی فروش و خدمات پس از فروش برندهای بزرگ شامل نمایندگی آکوا پرو ، نمایندگی آکوا لایف ، نمایندگی آکوا پیور ، نمایندگی آکوا اسپرینگ ، نمایندگی آکوا لاین ، نمایندگی آکوا کلیر ، نمایندگی سافت واتر ، نمایندگی سی سی کا ، نمایندگی جامبو … با گارانتی طلایی 2 ساله و خدمات پس از فروش مادام العمر؛
    خرید دستگاه تصفیه آب

    Reply ↓

  38. شرکت آبگونه پالایش گستر نوین بزرگترین وارد کننده و تامین کننده دستگاه های تصفیه آب خانگی ، پیش تصفیه و نیمه صنعتی در کشور و نمایندگی فروش و خدمات پس از فروش برندهای آکوا پرو ، آکوا لایف ، آکوا پیور ، آکوا اسپرینگ ، آکوا لاین ، آکوا کلیر ، سافت واتر ، سی سی کا و جامبو ، ضمن تعهد در تامین کلیه قطعات و فیلتراسیون مصرفی مفتخر است با همکاری پرسنل مجرب و کارآزموده همگام با آخرین تکنولوژیهای روز دنیا در صنعت تصفیه ، مجموعه ای از بهترین دستگاه های تصفیه آب خانگی و نیمه صنعتی ، طراحی و ساخته شده توسط معتبرترین برندهای سازنده دستگاه های تصفیه آب در سراسر جهان را در راستای تامین سلایق مختلف و در جهت جلب رضایت حداکثری شما مشتریان عزیز گردآوری نموده و ضمن مشاوره و همراهی قدم به قدم جهت انتخاب بهترین ها توسط خریداران محترم ، با ارائه ضمانت نامه های استثنائی دو ساله در سطوح برنزی ، طلائی و الماس همراه با خدمات پس از فروش مادام العمر، اصالت و کیفیت دستگاه ها و خدمات مطلوب شما را تضمین مینماید . هدف ما تامین سلامت شماست ؛
    دستگاه تصفیه آب

    Reply ↓

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *