Severe Cold Snap Hits After 60 Years
One Million Sheep and Other Animals Face Death Risk
A severe cold wave not seen in 60 years has hit Argentina in South America, and photos of living animals frozen solid in ice are spreading mainly on social networking services (SNS).
Argentina, located in the Southern Hemisphere, has a vast land area 28 times larger than that of South Korea. In this country, except for the southern region near Antarctica, the northern and central regions generally do not experience temperatures below freezing even in winter. However, since the end of June, an unusual Antarctic cold wave has covered the entire territory of Argentina.
Ducks (left) and a fox frozen in the Antarctic cold in Argentina [Image source=Captured online from Argentina TN Broadcasting, Yonhap News]
This cold wave transformed all of Argentina into a 'Winter Kingdom.' In the southern Patagonia region, even the waves froze, and local media reported that 1 million sheep and 70,000 cattle in the Calafate area are also facing the risk of death due to heavy snowfall.
Photos of animals that died from cold while searching for food without shelter during this unprecedented severe cold wave have also been posted on SNS one after another. In Comodoro Rivadavia, Chubut Province in southern Argentina, a photo of a fox frozen on the snow was posted. Local media reported, "It is presumed that this fox came down to the city in search of food." In Trenque Lauquen, Buenos Aires Province, a photo was taken of a duck frozen in a slightly frozen pond. Local media Pihana12 reported, "It seems the duck fell asleep in the pond as the lake began to freeze," adding, "Fortunately, this duck was saved with the help of people."
Birds are sitting under icicles at a house in Argentina, where Antarctic cold waves have arrived. [Image source=Social Networking Service (SNS) X capture]
As the cold wave hit, southern Patagonia became one of the coldest regions in the world. The Argentine National Meteorological Service (hereinafter 'SMN') announced that since the end of last month, temperatures in some parts of Argentina dropped lower than those in Antarctica. In San Sebasti?n, a small village in Tierra del Fuego, temperatures fell to minus 12 degrees Celsius, causing the sea to freeze and waves to rise stiffly along the coastline, creating a fantastic spectacle. Residents of this area took beautiful photos of the thickly piled snow, icicles, and birds hiding under eaves and posted them on SNS.
The Antarctic cold wave occurs when a high-pressure center between Patagonia and the Antarctic Peninsula pushes a large amount of cold air northward from Antarctica. SMN issued a cold wave warning, which was also issued for generally warm northern regions such as Jujuy Province, Salta Province, Chaco Province, and Formosa Province.
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