A spell of bitter cold across northern Europe has allowed Estonians to do something unusual: drive across a frozen stretch of the Baltic Sea linking two of the country’s largest islands.
Officials on Sunday opened a 20-kilometer (12½-mile) “ice road” between Saaremaa and Hiiumaa, situated in western Estonia between the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga. By afternoon, a queue of vehicles had formed, eager to make the rare journey.
The temporary route was sanctioned after residents began crossing the frozen waters on their own, risking their safety. Regular ferry services had struggled in recent weeks as temperatures hovered around minus 10 degrees Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit), causing ice to clog sea lanes.
For Hiiumaa’s roughly 9,000 residents, access to nearby Saaremaa — home to about 31,000 people — is vital for everyday needs such as shopping, schooling and onward travel to mainland Estonia.
Hiiumaa Mayor Hergo Tasuja described the ice road not only as a practical solution but also as a tradition deeply rooted in local life.
“Generations of people living by the sea swim and sail during summer,” Tasuja told The Associated Press. “In winter, it’s natural for them to head out onto the frozen sea.”
The route is carefully mapped out across ice deemed thick enough to support vehicles. Preparing it is a demanding task. Marek Koppel, a road maintenance supervisor at Estonian construction firm Verston Eesti, said crews measure the ice every 100 meters to ensure it exceeds the minimum 24-centimeter (9½-inch) thickness required for safety. Workers also level uneven patches and seal cracks, while conditions are monitored continuously.
Strict rules apply. Vehicles must weigh no more than 2.5 tons and travel either below 20 kilometers per hour or between 40 and 70 kph, as mid-range speeds can create vibrations that weaken the ice. Drivers are prohibited from stopping and must keep safe distances. Passengers are advised not to wear seat belts and to keep doors unlatched for a quick exit if necessary.
Visitors have embraced the experience. Alexei Ulyvanov, who traveled from Tallinn with his children, described the ride as smooth and said he wanted to show them that “it’s possible to drive a car across the sea.”
According to local officials, the islands were last connected by an ice road about eight years ago, as recent winters have been too mild to allow it.
Verston Eesti said it has also been commissioned to prepare two additional ice routes this week, linking mainland Estonia to smaller offshore islands — another sign of how extreme winter conditions are reshaping daily life in the Baltic nation.