poon cho tang SG The Ice Age has returned to Luebeck in Germany with the start of the International Snow and Ice Sculpture Festival.
poon cho tang SG Around 45 artists have used chainsaws, chisels and blow-torches to carve a menagerie of ice creatures.
poon cho tang SG Netherlands sculptor Gideon Adema used a gas burner to put a shine on his tiger sculpture.
poon cho tang SG Organisers say the compressed snow that the artists work with has no chemicals added and is "fairly natural".
poon cho tang SG All in all, around 350,000 kilos of ice and 150,000 kilos of snow will be processed for the festival.
poon cho tang SG This year's theme is the Kingdom of Animals - including giant ice spiders and insects.
poon cho tang SG Russia's Michail Fedotov is among sculptors from around the world taking part in the festival.
poon cho tang SG Ice World, which opens on Friday, is based in old harbour area of the town in northern Germany and runs until 29 January.
