Icebreaker

An icebreaker is a type of ship that clears pathways through ice in polar regions. This allows shipping lanes to stay open for longer periods.

Icebreakers work by partially climbing up onto the ice, then the weight of the ship breaks through using gravity.

They have thick, strong hulls and powerful engines designed to endure the harsh conditions.

All six of Russia's heavy nuclear powered icebreakers are confined to Arctic waters, because they rely on the cold water to help cool their reactors.

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  The Niagara Queen II operates on the Niagara River, to clear ice from the inlet for the Beck hydroelectric plant
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  The Nathaniel B. Palmer was a research icebreaker, operated by the National Science Foundation
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  Small icebreakers, clear ice from rivers and canals, like the Nevskaya Zastava, seen here on the Neva River
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  The Arktika one of Russia's fleet of large, powerful nuclear-powered icebreakers