Video appears to show mysterious 'ice monster' in Alaska river 2016

A video that appears to show an “ice monster” swimming in the waters of Alaska’s Chena River has sparked interest from around the world.

When Fairbanks Bureau of Land Management public affairs specialist Craig McCaa made one of his many trips to the banks of the river to photograph the changing seasons in October, he was shocked to see a long creature — experts estimate 12-15 feet — snaking through the top of the water.

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Experts at the Alaska Department of Fish and Game chimed in. It was nothing biological, just junk. Specifically, the bureau said in a Facebook update Sunday, the thing was “frazil ice stuck to a rope that is probably caught on a bridge pier.”

The natural phenomenon of frazil ice occurs during bursts of cold. Instead of forming a crust, the small and supercooled disks mix into flowing rivers and streams, giving the water a slushy appearance. There’s ice, but no monster.
When the Alaskan agency employees returned to the scene on Oct. 31, the area had warmed, and the thing vanished along with the river ice and snow.

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