A rare wave of rime ice has magically transformed the arid landscapes of north China's Inner Mongolia into a shimmering white wonderland, captivating visitors with a breathtaking winter spectacle.
Recent cold fronts sweeping the Ejina Banner of Alxa League brought a series of snowfalls to the sprawling populus euphratica forests, coating countless branches in delicate rime ice. Spanning 30,000 hectares, these ancient desert woodlands rise from the frozen ground, their branches coated in crystal-clear rime that glitters in the setting sun.
Rime ice, formed only when frigid temperatures meet abundant moisture, is a rare sight in Ejina Banner, where the arid climate brings less than 40 millimeters of annual rainfall. The stunning, captivating scenery has drawn crowds of travelers to witness this elusive natural artwork.
Inner Mongolia’s Gobi Desert turns into winter wonderland with rime-coated trees
The United States Central Command released a statement on Tuesday saying that a U.S. Army Apache helicopter gunship crashed near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, and that its two crew members had been rescued.
According to the statement, two crew members from a U.S. Army AH-64 Apache were rescued by American forces after their helicopter went down at 7:33 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday near the coast of Oman while patrolling regional waters.
The soldiers were rescued within around two hours and are in stable condition.
An investigation into the cause of the crash is underway, although U.S. President Donald Trump said in a social media post that the helicopter had been shot down by Iran.
"I have just been informed ... that last night the Iranians shot down one of our highly sophisticated Apache helicopters while patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz," Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Tuesday.
The two pilots onboard the helicopter were rescued and are "safe and uninjured," Trump said.
"Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack," he added.
U.S. military confirms helicopter crash near Strait of Hormuz, Trump vows to respond
