A photo circulating on social media on Wednesday has stirred a significant amount of discussion in Rovaniemi, Finland. The image appears to show a group of snowmobilers stopped dangerously close to the melting ice of the Kemijoki river. This created a wave of indignation among observers, as the area between the Jätkänkynttilä bridge and the railway bridge is known to be hazardous due to the weak ice resulting from the strong currents of the river.

However, further examinations reveal that the interpretation of the photo was misleading. According to images taken by Yle from the same location, the nearest snowmobile tracks were approximately 30 meters away from the open water. Unlike what the social media post suggested, the tracks were situated upstream of the Jätkänkynttilä bridge, where the conditions are considerably safer compared to the downstream, which poses the highest risk of ice breakage.

The local safari service Safarctica has stated that their snowmobiles were the ones depicted in the controversial image. They confirmed to have been operating on an official trail, thus emphasizing that the initial concerns were unfounded. This incident highlights the potential for misrepresentation through social media, where images can create panic and misunderstandings about safety in outdoor activities, especially concerning prevailing weather conditions and geographical factors.