Snow is something most Nigerians only see in movies, but in some parts of the world it falls for months at a time. Heavy snowfall usually happens in places that are cold, high up, and close to a source of moisture such as an ocean or a large lake. Here are eight countries known for some of the heaviest snowfall in the world.
1. Japan
Japan is often called the snowiest country on earth. In winter, cold winds from Siberia pick up moisture over the Sea of Japan and dump it on the western side of the country. Cities such as Aomori, Sapporo and Toyama receive several metres of snow each year. Japan also holds the record for the deepest snow ever measured: 11.82 metres on Mount Ibuki in 1927.
2. Canada
Much of Canada is covered in snow for a large part of the year. Mountain areas in British Columbia, such as Rogers Pass, get some of the heaviest snowfall in North America. Quebec and Newfoundland also receive large amounts every winter.
3. United States
The United States holds the record for the most snow recorded in a single season: about 29 metres at Mount Baker in Washington State during the 1998–1999 winter. Alaska, the Rocky Mountains and the areas around the Great Lakes are also known for very heavy snow.
4. Russia
Russia is the largest country in the world, and much of it, especially Siberia, has long, freezing winters. The Kamchatka Peninsula in the far east and the Ural Mountains receive heavy snowfall, and snow can stay on the ground for more than half the year.
5. Norway
Norway's mountains and its long Atlantic coastline make it one of the snowiest countries in Europe. Western Norway gets heavy snow in the mountains, and in the far north, the Arctic winter brings both snow and weeks without sunlight.
6. China
Northern and western China see harsh winters. The north-east region of Heilongjiang, home to the famous Harbin Ice and Snow Festival, is known for its snowy winters. High areas such as the Tibetan Plateau and the Tianshan Mountains also receive snow for much of the year.
7. Nepal
Nepal is home to eight of the world's ten highest mountains, including Mount Everest. At these heights, snow can fall in any season. The Himalayas hold large amounts of snow and ice that feed the rivers of South Asia.
8. North Korea
North Korea has cold, dry winters brought by winds from Siberia, and its northern mountains receive a lot of snow. Mount Paektu, on the border with China, is the highest peak on the Korean Peninsula and is covered in snow for much of the year.
These countries show how geography shapes weather. Height, cold air and moisture from nearby seas together decide where the world's heaviest snow falls.
