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Countries where the Sea Freezes

Can you name the countries where sea ice usually forms by the coast in winter?
Includes external territories of countries.
Sources: NSIDC maps of the 1981-2010 median ice edge, these maps by the Finnish Meteorological Institute (1996-2016), Wikipedia.
Quiz by
georgekotz
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Last updated: January 28, 2026
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First submittedNovember 6, 2017
Times taken113,307
Average score88.2%
Rating4.93
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Country
Canada
China
Estonia
Finland
Germany
Country
Japan
Latvia
Lithuania
North Korea
Norway
Poland
Country
Russia
Sweden
Ukraine
United States
via external territories
Denmark (Greenland)
United Kingdom
(South Sandwich Islands)
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103 Recent Comments
Cooldrive
+10
Level 64
Jan 20, 2018
Didn't think of the Black Sea freezing.
armood008
+1
Level 31
Jan 20, 2018
Nor did I
Nige
+9
Level 53
Jan 24, 2018
Nor me, but I have found this: "Ice formation in Sea of Azov occurs annually. The freeze lasts for 2-5 months"#

You live and learn!

Cygnus2112
+2
Level 68
Jul 11, 2021
It is called black ice by the local fishermen.
TheCrusher
+15
Level 70
Jan 20, 2018
Sorry for nitpicking but Greenland isn't a country. And since the quiz asks for countries, I think the answer should be "Denmark (Greenland)" and not "Greenland (Denmark)".
Insaniot
+3
Level 63
Jan 22, 2018
I disagree. The reason it was put that way was to show that Greenland gets the ice, not the mainland
SirGoldenclaw
+10
Level 76
May 21, 2019
The mainland in Denmark has frozen coastlines every few years. some years you can walk from island to island on the frozen sea. We even lost a war to sweden beacuse they could walk all the way.
TheCrusher
+14
Level 70
Aug 11, 2020
I stand by my comment, @Insaniot. Putting Greenland in parentheses also makes it clear that that's why Denmark is included. It should be "Denmark (because of Greenland)", and not "Greenland (which is part of Denmark)". In other words: "Country (reason)", and not "Reason (Country)".
Chocapic
+1
Level 73
Jan 31, 2026
You are wrong and you don't understand how Jetpunk works.
SpencerGT
+9
Level 68
Mar 2, 2021
Denmark is a territory of Greenland now.
anna0kear
+4
Level 35
Jan 21, 2018
Iceland? Mainland Denmark?
idontkn1
+10
Level 94
Jan 22, 2018
Very surprised that the eastern extremes of mainland Denmark aren't normally frozen but Germany's are.
frazed
+1
Level 44
Jan 23, 2018
United Kingdom should be on the list due to their Oversea Territories in the Antarctic primarily South Georgia and Sandwhich Islands where the sea does freeze around it. And it does not form part of the Antarctic Treaty.
georgekotz
+2
Level 80
Jan 23, 2018
Αs I wrote in a comment above, South Georgia is visible on the maps of the NSIDC as being ice-free throughout the year. The South Sandwich islands are too small to be shown on the map. If anyone cares to provide a source that shows that the sea freezes there, I'll resubmit the quiz.
blindcartographr
+3
Level 45
May 21, 2019
Wiki says the sandwich islands generally remain free of pack ice in winter, though ice may form in bays, and icebergs are common. Sea temperatures drop to around 0 Celsius in August and rise to around 4 Celsius in April. Not saying it should be included on the quiz though.
kevinsimba
+4
Level 47
Jan 28, 2018
Greenland is not a country!
TheCrusher
+2
Level 70
Aug 11, 2020
Agreed. Thus my above commentary.
daraconn
+4
Level 57
Jun 29, 2022
Greenland certainly is a country. Just not an independent or sovereign country.
Rowand33
+6
Level 51
Apr 2, 2018
But... but... Iceland?
jafe
+22
Level 87
May 2, 2018
That is some serious false advertising. I propose we start calling it just "Land".
Sifhraven
+4
Level 76
May 21, 2019
I allready learned a long time ago, iceland is green and greenland has ice. Someone wasnt paying attention when naming these.
Zefyrinus
+2
Level 74
Jul 31, 2020
They have ice on the glaciers.
TheCrusher
+11
Level 70
Aug 11, 2020
Well, it's not called Icesea...
EmileLexi
+2
Level 21
Feb 9, 2019
冰岛不被接受？
EytanMelech
+1
Level 66
Mar 18, 2020
Bīngdǎo méiyǒu dòngjié dì hǎi'àn. Zhèyàng zuò hái bùgòu lěng.
Nathaniel
+2
Level 77
Jul 31, 2020
Schreibt's doch in Englisch, ansonstn vastäht jo kana wos! XD
AndreaHB
+2
Level 59
Dec 5, 2019
Germany? Really? I have never seen or heard from, only stories about war...
georgekotz
+4
Level 80
Dec 5, 2019
The Baltic freezes quite easily, so especially bays and lagoons near the Polish border often freeze up in winter.
Nado
+4
Level 54
Jul 15, 2025
If war is the only thing you have heard about germany, you havent heard much about it
tshalla
+4
Level 78
Jul 31, 2020
I got to walk on the ice at Churchill, Manitoba this winter. There are still cracks in the ice, from which seals can emerge, much to polar bears' delight.
JamesWycombe
+1
Level 74
Jan 29, 2026
are you saying you broke the sea ice? how much do you weigh?
McKenzieFam
+2
Level 68
Jul 31, 2020
No Iceland????
uHkOrHuTo
+2
Level 48
Jul 31, 2020
Watch comments above about the impact of the Gulf Stream on Iceland.
loganite
+1
Level 93
Jul 31, 2020
You can see why the myth arose that Iceland was so named to deter overpopulation. Greenland, on the other hand, may have actually been named by Erik the Red as a way to attract new settlers.
kalbahamut
+3
Level 79
Aug 1, 2020
Iceland is still among the coldest countries in the world, even if the coastal waters are sometimes slightly above freezing.
Djilas
+1
Level 86
Nov 18, 2020
Iceland has plenty of ice on land.
loganite
+2
Level 93
Jun 25, 2022
Yeah, like I said...it is a myth that Iceland is a warm place and was so named to deter overpopulation. It is actually quite cold.
Nathaniel
+3
Level 77
Jul 31, 2020
I tried Croatia because of this image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senj#/media/File:Winter_bora_in_Senj.jpg This looks so fascinating in my opinion, seeing that I was there in summer and it was HOT
YellowJacket
+4
Level 80
Jul 31, 2020
The Adriatic is still liquid behind the very cool frozen stuff.
ivceh
+2
Level 70
Jan 29, 2026
The last two times it froze were 1985 and 1991 (before I was born).
tervuren
+1
Level 59
Jul 31, 2020
I'm just wondering why Iceland is not on the list.
SAFETYFIIIRST
+3
Level 47
Aug 1, 2020
Ukraine is very surprising for me! Who would have that that Ukraine gets sea ice, but not the UK or Iceland?
YashShelar
+1
Level 51
Aug 4, 2020
Got all with 1:16 left
cdguy24
+5
Level 51
Aug 4, 2020
This quiz will probably get easier in the near future.
Mthd
+1
Level 37
Jun 12, 2025
It already got easier, these are from 1981-2010 averages
tw4816
+10
Level 53
Aug 6, 2020
1. read the title of the quiz

2. find it interesting

3. open it

4. play it

5. time ends

6. UKRAINE?!

HozzBozz
+5
Level 31
Aug 6, 2020
Only missed Cape Verde and Saint Kitts...
EcceHomo
+1
Level 85
Oct 5, 2020
How could you?
PapaFurchetta
+2
Level 94
Oct 8, 2025
Yes, it’s something how the unique location of St. Kitts within the Leeward Islands makes it the only island in the Caribbean to ice over regularly.
ShreyanP
+1
Level 38
Jan 1, 2022
Really China?!
Darkify
+1
Level 47
Jan 14, 2026
Not really that surprising, it lies on extremely similar latitudes as the US. If you've gotten the US, you should also go for China
RussiaIsChunk
+2
Level 45
May 24, 2022
Kinda shocking not Iceland...
Koopa
+3
Level 88
Jun 25, 2022
I'm guessing the current prevents ice from forming in Chile and Argentina near Tierra del Fuego.
Colesk33
+1
Level 55
Jun 25, 2022
Wait... So you're telling me ICEland's water does not freeze? They should change the name for false advertising or something
cuendillar
+1
Level 71
Dec 18, 2025
It has glaciers, but no sea ice. Thus Iceland rather than Icewater. How is that false marketing?
Masonplays
+1
Level 25
Jun 25, 2022
ICEland it has ice in its name top 7th most northern country
Lilylee
+2
Level 79
Jun 27, 2022
I just happened to walk past the Finnish fleet of icebreakers the other day. There was some infographics next to the fence, at least in 2011 the Baltic Sea was almost frozen shut and the map showed plenty of ice around Zealand. Maybe this could be enough to take Greenland off and just leave Denmark so people wouldn't get confused.
wiifly
+1
Level 65
Jun 29, 2022
Source ends in 2010 so I’m guessing that’s why.
georgekotz
+1
Level 80
Jun 30, 2022
The source for the Baltic ends in 2016, but Denmark had no ice along its coast in more than half the winters at the time of the yearly maximum extent over the 20 year period that was taken into account.
wiifly
+2
Level 65
Jun 29, 2022
I’m honestly surprised that Germany freezes but none of mainland Denmark does.
daraconn
+2
Level 57
Jun 29, 2022
The sea off Denmark does freeze in some winters, though whether it qualifies as "usual" is open to question.

It's a bit misleading to talk about "mainland Denmark" though as a good chunk of the country including the capital region is situated on islands.

UnicornMegan
+1
Level 20
Jul 4, 2022
This was hard but fun I got 4 wrong. :)
LuckyCat
+1
Level 72
Feb 23, 2023
You mean you missed four.
os
+1
Level 56
Sep 19, 2022
Ukraine definitely is a tricky one if you don't know that the black sea freezes
LuckyCat
+2
Level 72
Feb 23, 2023
Wait, the ice is black . . .
LennyTheGiant
+2
Level 51
Dec 13, 2022
I'm surprised Iceland wasn't on this list.
LuckyCat
+1
Level 72
Feb 23, 2023
Seconded
gimplord209
+1
Level 49
Jul 13, 2024
thrived
gimplord209
+1
Level 49
Jul 13, 2024
thrided SORRY
gimplord209
+1
Level 49
Jul 13, 2024
same
Nickelz
+2
Level 69
May 14, 2023
Not Iceland?
MaoZedong
+2
Level 21
Jan 5, 2024
what about chile and argentina??
gimplord209
+1
Level 49
Jul 13, 2024
dude as soon as I noticed that it was alphabetical I freaking knew and nailed it and pwned it and got it correctly knowing darn well that it was absolutely it yet I didn't know it that it was most likely most to absolutely be that the answer was going to be what I said it was Ukraine
StarWarsLover
+1
Level 58
Feb 1, 2025
Huh?
Selmarya
+1
Level 67
Feb 20, 2025
how is ukraine here? I assume the Dnipro lake system?
blizzrd33
+5
Level 81
Jan 28, 2026
Sea of Azov
SpartanLlama
+1
Level 79
May 13, 2025
1:14 used
binoclarde
+2
Level 3
Aug 28, 2025
ET LE CHILI
kaper95
+1
Level 45
Dec 17, 2025
Forgot about the Baltic sea until 30 seconds left so missed Latvia then completely for got about Ukraine completely
dmperkins74
+1
Level 51
Dec 17, 2025
You're telling me Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia freeze, but not Estonia? I cry foul!
French2010
+7
Level 96
Dec 17, 2025
Estonia is on the list.
Jeremy2011
+2
Level 46
Dec 18, 2025
Where’s Iceland?
georgekotz
+3
Level 80
Dec 19, 2025
Unsurprisingly, people have been wondering about Iceland since some of the first comments on this quiz, but as these aren't readily visible anymore, here's the explanation again: the powerful North Atlantic Current keeps the climate exceptionally mild for Iceland's latitude, the sea in particular staying warm enough to prevent ice formation even during cold weather.
blizzrd33
+1
Level 81
Jan 28, 2026
Iceland is located in the North Atlantic.
JustAZoomer
+1
Level 49
Dec 18, 2025
"Usually". Instantly typed in Poland just to check it, of course it was accepted. I could as well say nuclear reactors USUALLY reach critical levels of failure in Japan.
georgekotz
+2
Level 80
Dec 19, 2025
Clicking on the link in the caveat and checking the source sounds like less trouble than coming up with this analogy, so you might consider doing that! :)
Wikibalt
+1
Level 43
Dec 18, 2025
Iceland?
BMull28
+2
Level 55
Jan 27, 2026
Specifying external territory made me go for the UK. Sea ice covers the seas around Southern Thule for at least 3 months a year. How does that not fit the criteria?
georgekotz
+2
Level 80
Jan 27, 2026
I hadn't been able to find a source for ice cover around the South Sandwich Islands, but I see now that the Wikipedia page on Southern Thule in particular does provide the necessary information. I will resubmit the quiz accordingly.
BMull28
+2
Level 55
Jan 29, 2026
wow, very quick update! Thanks, that's great work
zebracrossing
+1
Level 68
Jan 28, 2026
I guess France / Saint-Pierre et Miquelon does not qualify because the open sea seldom freezes. Inside the harbours, though, ice is quite common
georgekotz
+3
Level 80
Jan 28, 2026
Yeah, a small harbour freezing over is arguably an event on too small a scale for its frequency to be accurately documented around the world and taken into account here. I think it's best to stick to the NSIDC map limits for this one.
DesolationRow
+1
Level 52
Jan 28, 2026
Had to retake the quiz because of the reset, and somehow got all of them except Russia on the first time.. Had a brain fart and thought I had already typed it in.
JohnnyYeet
+2
Level 66
Jan 29, 2026
I went to Iceland this past summer and there was ice all over the ocean, I find it very hard to believe that the sea there doesn't freeze in winter at least in some capacity
BMull28
+2
Level 55
Jan 29, 2026
It's likely drift ice that has floated over from Greenland. The Icelandic Met Office have an interesting article on it - https://en.vedur.is/sea-ice/sea/
Koopa
+1
Level 88
Jan 29, 2026
Could UK's South Georgia, Orkney, and Shetland Islands also be parenthetically listed? Two of those island groups are even further south than Sandwich.
BMull28
+2
Level 55
Jan 29, 2026
1) South Georgia is further North than the South Sandwich Islands AND the seas do not regularly freeze around them. Only Thule, Cook, and arguably Bristol islands, the most Southern of the South Sandwich Islands routinely experience this.

2) South Orkney and Shetland islands are not part of the UK, they are claimed within the UK's Antarctic claims, but is protected by the Antarctic Treaty.

mf3
+1
Level 90
Jan 29, 2026
If you're counting the UK's Antarctic islands, what about Kerguelen etc. belonging to France?
georgekotz
+1
Level 80
Jan 29, 2026
The Kerguelen Islands are too far north to get any sea ice, even the average winter temperature is above 2 degrees Celsius.
HemmoAU
+1
Level 57
Mar 12, 2026
Maybe Australia's external territory of Heard island and the McDonald islands? Though checking your source I think it's too far north.

Like many people, shocked to see Chile isn't on here.

georgekotz
+1
Level 80
Mar 13, 2026
Yes, sea ice in that area stays below 55 degrees south on average.
Pontiac
+1
Level 61
Mar 24, 2026
Extremely surprised at no Iceland on here.
Samuelfghk
+1
Level 39
Mar 25, 2026
Romania and Bulgaria should be on the list too. The Black sea regularly freezes in the north since it's shallow and has a significant inflow of fresh water via Danube. The delta of Danube in Romania has frozen multiple times throughout the past century. In very strong winters, the Black sea can freeze all the way down to the Cape Kaliakra in Bulgaria.
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