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photo (80 ft): light nilas; considerable rafting; grey-white ice or first-year ice in the background (Environment Canada)
photo (200 ft): dark nilas near the shore; light nilas and grey ice in foreground; finger rafting (Environment Canada)
A thin elastic crust of ice, easily bending on waves and swell and under pressure, thrusting in a pattern of interlocking "fingers" (finger rafting). Has a matt surface and is up to 10 cm in thickness. May be subdivided into Dark nilas and Light nilas.