Skip to content
Other Atlas
  • Home
  • Worlds
    • World Archetypes
    • Fantasy Worlds
    • Science Fiction Worlds
    • Cyberpunk Worlds
    • Post-Apocalyptic Worlds
    • Horror
    • Mythological
  • Toolkits
    • Getting Started
    • Components
    • Models
    • Techniques
    • Map Icons
  • Shop
  • Support

Other Atlas

Frozen Rivers

Frozen Rivers

ELEMENT │ TERRAIN

Frozen rivers are ice-cold rivers either partially or completely frozen over. Fictional frozen rivers are often found in frozen regions or winter wonderlands and can act either as dangerous terrain to navigate or a quaint location upon which characters can skate. In partially frozen rivers, floating ice chunks may be moving downriver, offering worldbuilders an opportunity for characters to treat these icy islands as terrain that can navigated by foot or carefully avoided by boat. Frozen rivers may possess frozen waterfalls. There may be areas of the ice that is weak, and characters may fall through and into the freezing (and potentially fast moving) water beneath. Frozen rivers may represent easy ways to move through a frozen area, either by skate or by sled.

Synonyms:
streams, ice-cold water
Example Mythonyms:
the Northern Dale, the Bluebite River
Terrain

Designing Fictional Frozen Rivers

Foundations

Rivers

Reference Image Gallery

A Primer

  • Getting Started
  • World Archetypes
  • Regions & Biomes
  • Places
  • Factions
  • Fictional Histories
  • Worldbuilding Terminology

Inspiration in Your Inbox

Our monthly email with fun worldbuilding tips, guides & tidbits.

The Other Atlas Bulletin.

Success! Welcome to the Other Atlas Bulletin.

© 2025   All Rights Reserved.