The Ice Tower of Oravská Polhora – A Community-Built Winter Attraction Each year, local enthusiasts in Oravská Polhora build an impressive ice tower, turning the village center into a small winter wonderland. The idea came from Ján Heruda, inspired by a trip to Italy. He initially planned to create a frozen waterfall in nearby Sihelné, using a tree as the base. However, a few years ago, the mayor of Oravská Polhora offered a better opportunity: an unused utility pole, access to water, and electricity. Since then, the Polhora Ice Pillar has become a beloved seasonal feature of the village. Even mountain rescue teams use it to train ice climbing skills. Just this past Saturday, a public open day allowed visitors—young and old alike—to try climbing the icy structure for themselves.