A sudden blockage or jam of ice in a river that causes water to back up and flood the surrounding area.
From French embâcle, from em- (in) + bâcle (bar, barrier), ultimately from Latin baculum (stick). The term originated in French-speaking regions dealing with spring ice jams in rivers.
During spring thaws in northern rivers, enormous chunks of ice can suddenly pile up and create temporary dams that raise water levels 30+ feet in minutes—historical embacles have devastated towns, making this a critical concern for engineers in Canada and Russia.
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