Winter 101

The winter solstice

Each year individuals count down to the first day of winter, be it in anticipation of the new season or with anguish that the warmer weather is a distant memory. The first day of winter is also known as the winter solstice.

The winter solstice occurs exactly when the axial tilt of the earth is the farthest away from the sun. The winter solstice features the shortest number of daylight hours and the longest number of nighttime hours. Therefore, the winter solstice is also often referred to as the shortest day of the year for people living in the Northern Hemisphere.
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Anatomy of a snowflake

Oftentimes, when winter arrives people are more concerned with what snowflakes as a large group can do (blizzards, snow mounds, etc.) and rarely give thought to the beauty and intricacy of an individual snowflake.

By now most probably know that no two snowflakes are alike and that they have some unique characteristics. Here's an exploration of some of the components of a snowflake and what makes them a marvel of natural engineering.
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Coldest place in North America

When the winter weather sets in, many people across the country complain that these below-freezing temperatures are some of the coldest they've ever experienced. But when it comes to matching up the mercury to the coldest place in North America, where you live may seem quite balmy in comparison, even in mid-January.
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Adventures in snowshoeing

Snowshoeing is a wintertime activity that can be enjoyable and healthy for all ages.

Enthusiasts say that snowshoeing is truly an activity that anyone can enjoy -- from children to seniors. As long as a person is able to walk, he or she can also try snowshoeing. According to research provided by Snowsports Industries America, 40.8 percent of snowshoers are women, 9.4 percent of snowshoers are children (ages 7 to 11), and 44.2 percent of snowshoers are between the ages of 25 to 44.
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Seasonal cities and towns

Many different towns across the country have names that seem perfectly themed to the winter season. Whether holiday-inspired names of North Pole or Garland or simply names that inspire visions of snow-capped hills, the United States is replete with many winter-inspired locales. Here are just a sampling of them.
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Origins of the Winter Olympics

Every four years, athletes and sporting enthusiasts gather to participate in the Winter Olympics, overseen by the International Olympic Committee. Although in recent years the winter games stagger with the Summer Olympics every two years, these two events were once combined into one Olympic games. Beforehand, the winter games ceased to exist.
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Did you know?

The word "winter" comes from a Proto-Germanic word "wintruz," meaning "time of water." It also may derive from the Old Dutch word, "wintar."
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