Temperatures in northern Europe have dropped so low that Estonia opened a 20km ice road between its main islands, Saaremaa and Hiiumaa. The ice road was officially opened on Sunday, with cars lining up to cross a frozen sea between the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga. Authorities acted after locals started driving across the frozen sea on their own, risking safety. Ferries struggled to run regularly due to the icy conditions. Hiiumaa island, with 9,000 residents, relies on Saaremaa, which has around 31,000 people, for shopping and schools. Saaremaa also connects to mainland Estonia. Hergo Tasuja, mayor of Hiiumaa, said opening the ice road is “part of our culture.” He said, “For generations and generations, local people who live here, especially those who live near the sea, swim and use boats in the summertime. And in winter, it’s in their blood to go to the sea” and walk on the ice. The ice road is a marked path on the frozen sea where experts have measured that ice is thicker than 24cm, enough to carry cars safely. Marek Koppel, who manages the road, explained workers check ice thickness every 100 meters, smooth cracks, and monitor weather 24/7. Cars must weigh under 2.5 tonnes and keep speeds below 20 km/h or between 40 and 70 km/h to prevent ice damage. Drivers can’t stop, must keep distance, and passengers should not wear seatbelts. Doors must open easily for quick escape if needed. Alexei Ulyvanov from Tallinn said, “The road was pretty good, it was easy to ride.” He brought his children to show them “it’s possible to ride a car over the sea.” According to Tasuja, this ice road was last used eight years ago, as winters have been warmer since then. The construction company Verston Eesti will open two more ice roads this week, connecting mainland Estonia to smaller islands.