Photo: Arctic Lake Ice Sunset

This arctic lake glows as the sun shines on the layer of ice that covers it as well as the stunted bushes of plants that grow in the tundra.

An arctic lake and the surrounding landscape can be an unforgiving environment, although it looks beautiful in the late afternoon light or at sunset.

Often in arctic regions the beginning or end of a day are the most dramatic with either a beautiful sunrise or sunset. This lake has a thick layer of ice on it which seems to be a great platform for the sun to stream across it surface.

Permafrost covers this landscape making it difficult for anything to grow or thrive except plants and animals that are built to withstand extreme cold. Due to its almost constantly frozen surface when the sun shines on it, the ice and tundra seem to sparkle like jewels.

Sunset over a lake of thick ice.