Ice and wind create giant ice wall on Alberta lake

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Cheryl Santa Maria

Digital Reporter

Monday, April 11, 2016, 3:24 PM - Strong winds produced a large wall of ice along the shores of Ma-Me-O Beach on Alberta's Pigeon Lake over the weekend, prompting a flurry of curious spectators and social media posts.

The phenomenon, known as an ice shove, was large enough to reach beach side homes and damage seawalls in some places, according to Mayor Don Fleming.

Fleming told the Canadian Press low water, combined with strong winds, are probably what pushed the ice ashore. Still, this is one of the strongest shoves the area has seen in years.

According to Fleming, there's still a lot of ice on the lake, so another windy day could result in additional shoves.

Thanks @southpawmegan for sharing ice shove pics from Ma-Me-O Beach, at Pigeon Lake. Taller than her hubby! #abstorm pic.twitter.com/zH19V9QZ5w — Margeaux Morin (@MargeauxMorin) April 10, 2016

Ice creeps aren't uncommon. They're a by-product of ice from a body of water being pushed ashore by a current, wind or temperature difference.

The cracking and settling of the ice can be surprisingly loud, as evidenced by this recent ice shove filmed on Lake Ontario:

Even small ice shoves can be fascinating to watch.

Case in point: This video, taken by Weather Network viewer Jodi Baker in Brandon, Man., last April.

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In 2014, a virtual 'ice tsunami' caused by strong winds pushed huge blocks of ice 25 metres ashore. That was enough to damage some boathouses.

Then, in 2013, a local state of emergency was declared across western Manitoba after 14 homes suffered extensive damage in Ochre Beach when a wave of ice was thrust onto the land.

Nobody was hurt in the incident.