Knowing how quickly ice forms can sometimes be life-saving, especially in natural environments, such as lakes or rivers. In such a circumstance, the answer depends on the basin's size, depth, and surrounding air temperature. Everyone knows that water freezes around 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Still, it doesn't necessarily mean that the pond or lake surface will turn to solid ice once the air temperature reaches that value! According to science, water is particularly good at retaining heat; the larger the lake/pond, the slower the water molecules will form ice. As a result, a large lake will freeze after at least a week. Furthermore, we may frequently notice those melted wholes on the basin's frozen surface. According to scientific studies, an ice coating on the surface of such a basin grows one inch for every fifteen freezing-degree days in a twenty-four-hour period.