The Snow Monsters of Mount Zao

Published 12 hours ago
Source: theatlantic.com
The Snow Monsters of Mount Zao
A stand of small trees, all completely covered by thick frost and snow, at night, lit by multi-colored lights
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Frost-covered conifers called “snow monsters,” or juhyo in Japanese, are illuminated by spotlights that sit on a slope of Mount Zao on the night of February 8, 2022, in Yamagata prefecture, Tohoku region, Japan.
A snow-covered mountain slope, with a stand of trees covered in thick snow and ice
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Frozen “snow monsters” stand on a mountain slope in Japan.
Snow-covered trees, seen in silhouette at sunset
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Strangely shaped snow-covered trees, nicknamed “snow monsters,” are silhouetted by the setting sun at the summit of Mount Zao on January 19, 2019.
A person stands among small trees that are completely covered in snow and ice.
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Trees atop Mount Zao are illuminated on February 10, 2007, in Yamagata prefecture, Japan.
A cable car passes trees covered with ice and snow.
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A cable car passes trees covered with ice and snow at Zao Ski Resort on February 22, 2011.
Small trees, completely covered in thick snow and ice
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Illuminated “snow monsters” on Mount Zao on February 10, 2007
People walk on a mountain slope among snow-and-ice-covered trees
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Ice monsters are seen at Zao Ski Resort in Yamagata City on February 27, 2023.
Snow-covered trees on a windy day
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Snow-covered trees stand on a windy day atop Mount Zao on February 13, 2024.
Skiers pass gigantic ice deposits on trees.
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Skiers pass gigantic ice deposits on trees at a ski resort in the city of Yamagata on February 2, 2011.
Snow-and-frost-covered trees stand on a mountainside, seen at night.
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Frost-covered “snow monsters,” illuminated by spotlights, decorate the snowy landscape of Mount Zao on the night of February 8, 2022.
People walk near trees covered in thick snow and ice.
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Snow monsters stand above visitors on Mount Zao, on February 8, 2022.
Snow-covered trees cover the slopes of a mountain.
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Snow-covered trees cover the slopes of Mount Zao on January 19, 2019, near Yamagata, Japan.
Frost-covered trees, illuminated by lights at night
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Frost-covered “snow monsters” are illuminated by spotlights on Mount Zao on the night of February 8, 2022.
Frost-covered trees stand on a wind-blown snow-covered slope.
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“Snow monsters” stand on a wind-blown slope of Mount Zao on February 13, 2024.
Snow-covered trees stand on a mountain slope, seen at sunset.
Koichi Kamoshida / Jana Press / ZUMA Press Wire / Reuters
“Snow monsters” cover a slope at Zao Ski Resort in Yamagata prefecture, Japan, on February 22, 2011.