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Winter wonderlands can be home to the unexpected sight of snow chimneys, or fumarole, puffing steam into the sky. These steaming vents in Earth’s surface always occur in regions with active volcanisms. They work in a similar way to geysers: underground water meets magma and its heated until it boils and bursts through cracks in the rock, making its way to the surface. A fumarole has a smaller reserve of water so emits only steam. In the Arctic areas, the exiting steam freezes, forming vast snow chimneys around the volcanic opening. Gas can be released for centuries or just a few weeks. (Photo by George Steinmetz/National Geographic Creative)
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