Winter Fun Facts

_Elsa_

Oh what’s this! Some fun facts about winter!

During the cold weather, a lot of us want to just cozy up on the couch with a good book or head to bed to have a long nap. There's a lot going on during the winter months though, whether it be temperature, animal, or plant-related! 

Winter Temperature Fun Facts

• The lowest temperature ever recorded was at Vostok Station in Antarctica. On July 21, 1983, it was -98.2 degrees Celsius (-128.6 Fahrenheit) there!

• Some of the other coldest places in the world are Russia (specifically Siberia), Finland, and Mongolia. 

• The months December, January, and February are winter months in the Northern Hemisphere, but in the Southern Hemisphere (for example, in Australia) the coldest months of the year are actually June, July, and August!

• At -40 degrees Celsius (which is also -40 degrees Fahrenheit), the condensation from your breath can actually freeze.  

Winter Animal Fun Facts

• Depending on the season, some animals actually change color! For example, the arctic fox's fur changes to white during the winter so that it can better blend in with the snow. 

• Monarch butterflies actually migrate to avoid cold weather; starting in early fall, they start their long journey south, and arrive at a very specific location in Mexico in November. They start heading back up north in the spring-time. 

• Many animals, such as the black bear, hibernate during the winter. In the winter, a black bear's heartbeat can slow to 8 beats a minute (from the usual 40 or so) and it can go as long as 100 days without food! 

Winter Plant Fun Facts

• Though we usual think of winter months as being quite barren of plant life, there are plants, like the Chinese plum blossom (the national flower of the Republic of China), that bloom in chilly weather. Because the flower appears just before spring, it is a symbol of hope and perseverance. 

• Deciduous trees lose their leaves in winter to conserve much needed water, but evergreen trees have a different method. Evergreen trees often have needles or waxy leaves, which don't try out as easily. Thus, they are able to stay green and survive the winter. 

• Holly has been traditionally used as a decorative element during the holiday season, but why? Some have speculated that northern European Pagans used holly in ceremonies because it is a symbol of rejuvenation.’ (Source) 

“I never knew that plants can grow in the winter like the Chinese plum blossom,” Elsa thinks. “That is very interesting information.”

Let’s continue here - More Facts about winter

Start at the beginning – Elsa shares some winter facts