Icefree

The Boxer rebellion, her relations with China, her wish to secure an icefree port in the Pacific, had decided for Russia the number and distribution of her troops [...]

About the middle of the month the navigation on Archangel became icefree, and on the 17th the White-Sea was navigable.

Even if the ships bringing shells could be properly outfitted, there would still be the problem of getting Russian troops to Alexandrovsk, an icefree port, since Archangel was icebound.

Less than 2% of the continental area is icefree in summer, and the largest expanse is the McMurdo Dry Valleys, in southern Victoria Land (about 4000 km2; between 76° 15' S and 76°45' S, 161 ° and 163 ° E).