The icebreakers

The Baltic Sea ice is often iced up in winter months, but this is very variable. These icebreakers keep the channels clear. Each ship has a crew of around 20 and the ships can break ice up to 1.8 metres thick. They are moored just behind where we are staying. Today we took a ferry to the Fortress Island of Suomenlinna. It has an interesting history, originally built in the 18th century by the Swedes, then taken over by the Russians, finally becoming part of the Finnish defences when the state of Finland was recognised by the Bolsheviks in 1918. In the evening, we had a pleasant family meal in the local Nepalese restaurant.