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The River Thames froze so solid during the Little Ice Age that Londoners held 'frost fairs' right on the ice, complete with shops, pubs, and even horse races. 🧊 🥶From approximately 1300 to 1850 AD, much of the world endured a period of unusually cold temperatures known as the Little Ice Age. During this time, average global temperatures dropped by about 0.6°C—enough to transform landscapes and challenge human survival.In London, the frozen Thames became a playground and marketplace during particularly harsh winters. Between 1309 and 1814, the river froze at least 23 times severely enough to support days-long festivals. The winters could be devastating. During the Great Famine of 1315-1317, cold temperatures and excessive rain destroyed crops across Europe, leading to the deaths of millions. In some regions, desperate people resorted to cannibalism.Far north in Greenland, the Norse settlements established by Vikings around 985 AD eventually perished, unable to adapt their agricultural practices to the increasingly harsh conditions. By 1500, these once-thriving communities had vanished completely.The Little Ice Age transformed cultures in unexpected ways. Some art historians believe the vivid sunsets in paintings from this period reflect atmospheric conditions caused by volcanic eruptions that contributed to the cooling climate.While scientists debate the exact causes, evidence points to a combination of decreased solar activity, increased volcanic eruptions, and changes in ocean circulation patterns as contributors to this centuries-long cold spell.By the mid-19th century, the Little Ice Age gradually ended as temperatures began rising again. Today, the climate changes we're experiencing are occurring at a much faster rate than the natural variations of the past. 🌍Sources: Historical archives of London frost fairs, Norse settlement archaeological records#LittleIceAge #FrostFairs #ClimateHistory