The start of 2012 has not been kind to Europe as most countries have been hit hard by heavy snow and ice. Many Europeans find themselves merely inconvenienced by the abnormal weather, but others have been completely immobilized and the cold has been blamed for nearly 700 deaths.
Eastern Europe has seen the worst of the weather thus far. Romania has thousands of citizens stranded as roads and railways have been blocked by as much as 15 feet of snow in places. Russia, Poland, and Ukraine have seen the most tragic of afflictions from the weather, with over 100 deaths caused by the cold in each country.
Countries on the Mediterranean like Italy and Greece usually conjure up thoughts of beaches and sunshine, but they're experiencing freezing temperatures as well. Many tourists in Rome were dismayed to find the Colosseum closed to visitors when safety was called into question after several pieces crumbled off the walls (due to the snow and ice).
If there is a positive side to all the ice and snow, it does make for some beautiful scenery and unusual spectacles. Coastal cities in countries such as Croatia look majestic covered in ice, and it gives Geneva, Switzerland another level of beauty with the lake and mountains in the background. Frozen waterfalls make for some fantastic photos, and people in Amsterdam can take advantage by walking and skating on the frozen canals. Here are some unique photos of European cities and how the snow and ice have transformed them.
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