February 3: Time for the Ice Worm Festival!

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(I’m blogging on this because it’s interesting and it annoys Johnny!)

Have you ever heard of ice worms before?  If you had, would you want to have a festival about them?  As crazy as it sounds, ice worms do exist and there is a festival because of their existence!  (Click “read more” to see the videos!)The worms were first discovered in 1887 on Muir Glacier in Alaska and live only on temperate glaciers of the Pacific Coast.  These brown worms are about an inch long and are closely related to the common earthworm.  In the ice they look like little threads that rise to the surface of the ice at night and burrow down to as much as six feet during the day to avoid sunlight.

Why don’t they freeze?  The ice worm is able to produce a sort of protein in its body that prevents ice crystals from forming in their bodies.  Scientists are hoping to use what they know about the ice worm physiology to space travel, preservation techniques for transplant organs, and even how to store ice cream longer without the ice cream recrystalizing.

The ice worm is celebrated in Cordova, Alaska every February 3 with an Ice Worm Festival.  There’s lots of fun with games, food, and contests.  Plus there is a festival parade, which features a “Miss Iceworm.”  Have fun Cordovans!

Watch this video to see the ice worm!

Watch this video to see the Ice Worm Festival!