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Lifestyle & Human Interest

Rare Phenomenon Taking World by Storm, 'Ghost Apples' Formed by Wind and Ice

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With America’s midwestern states experiencing a particularly icy and cold winter, an unusual and rare weather phenomenon is taking place.

In the aptly named Fruit Ridge region of Kent County, Michigan, the freezing rain is creating a fruit formation called “ghost apples,” according to WOTV.

Andres Sietsema told WOTV he came across the ice formations while pruning his apple trees.

He captured the rare sight with a series of photos that are almost hard to believe until you see it.

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These hollowed out ice apples are caused by freezing rain coating the rotting apples, Sietsema told WOTV. This creates a solid icy shell around the apples that looks just like a real apple — except it’s not red or green.

The temperature of the air combined with the freezing rain creates the perfect condition for these “ghost apples” to form.

As Sietsema went about trimming his apple trees, the “ghost apples” would fall to the ground.

The rotten apple part would then slip out of the ice formation, leaving a casing of ice that looks like a “ghost apple.”

The rare occurrence allowed for the ice to remain intact but was warm enough for the apples to mush up and fall out of the bottom of the ice formation, Sietsema told WOTV.

Apples have a lower freezing temperature than water so the “ghost apples” can form with hardly any trouble.

The “ghost apples” also come in different varieties. Sietsema told WOTV that the Jonagolds are one of his favorite type of apples.

“We’ll call these Jonaghosts,” he joked.

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“Ghost apples” are a real thing. We just suggest that you don’t try to take a bite out them.

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Dawn is a writer from Milwaukee who loves the art of crafting copy. She has experience in marketing and worked as editor-in-chief of a monthly B2B magazine where she honed her writing skills. No matter the topic or audience, she has a story to tell.
Dawn is a writer from Milwaukee who loves the art of crafting copy. She has previously worked in marketing and as as editor-in-chief of a monthly B2B magazine where she honed her writing skills. She enjoys the art of captivating readers and making them come back time and time again for more. No matter the topic or audience, she has a story to tell. Whether it’s an article, newsletter, news release or web content, she's done it.
Birthplace
Milwaukee
Nationality
American
Education
BA, University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
Location
Waukesha, Wisconsin
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English
Topics of Expertise
Construction, Agriculture, Mining, Power Generation, Automotive




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